Paterno Greco di Tufo DOCG 2016

Luminous and springy with a soft, musky edge.

Dense straw yellow colour with golden hues.

Complex aromas with a subdued intensity, ample floral notes of magnolia and jasmine, wet grass and fresh almonds, underpinned by citrus overtones.

Fresh and mineral on the palate with high acidity, a light body and a dry, almond finish.

83 points

Food pairings:

This wine has plenty of acidity and salinity making it a perfect complement to seafood such as shrimp, calamari, and salmon. It would also work well with creamy pasta or fresh cheeses. Some examples include: fried shrimp and calamari, pasta alla carbonara, sautéed salmon with potatoes.

The Cantina Paterno is a family tradition that dates back to the 700’s when the family started producing and selling wine. In that period the family would sell local wine along the Via Regia connecting Naples to Puglia as well as the Bourbon capital Naples itself. In 1991 the family opened the Cantina with a focus on producing high quality wine from the traditional grapes of the region. In 2002 the cantina began exporting and ever since they have been carving a name for themselves in both national and international markets.

“Paterno”, meaning paternal in Italian, seems like an adequate name for a family tradition passed down from father to son. However, the namesake could also be due to the winery’s location in the town of Paternopoli. This town is in the Irpinia wine region, the heart of high quality wine in Campania, known for wines such as Aglianico from Taurasi, Greco from Tufo and Falanghina from Avellino.

The grape varietal “Greco” is believed to be of Greek origin, brought to southern Italy in the time of Magna Grecia. There are two types, Greco bianco and Greco nero. The white grape varietal is characterised by amber coloured grapes and aromatic quality. It is also one of the few Italian white grape varietals with excellent ageing potential. The wine Greco Di Tufo takes its name from the “Tufo” soil, or tuff, a type of rock composed of vulcanic ash. This type of soil gives the wine its mineral character and allows for more aromatic complexity as there is excellent drainage, meaning less diluted grapes.