In Amalfi, from the landscape to the coast and from the traditions to the products of the earth, everything is striking, and so is the cultivation of the grapevine, an ancient activity that requires a lot of knowledge. The landscape runs alongside the sea with the pattern of an antique piece of lace and soars towards the sky with its high mountains peaks. One can see the vineyards of Amalfi Coast on the terracing that embrace the mountains. During the centuries, these vineyards gave birth to some very fine wines that earned the prestigious guarantee of origin.
The vineyards’ harvest is the hidden and wild face of Amalfi Coast because it is between the mountains, while the coast is the most known and visited side of it. That’s the reason why wine producers are not only wine producers but also fishers and farmers because in the past that was the only way to survive. Thanks to the family tradition of grapevine cultivation, a lot of ancient vineyards still exist today.
Red Wines
Aglianico
Aglianico is one of the most popular vineyards in southern Italy and it is among the last European grapevines to be harvested between the end of October and the beginning of November, due to the long maturation time. Time and again, it is reaped as long as the fruit reaches the correct alcohol content, to avoid eventual storms or hailstorms, considering the season.
Aglianico is a grapevine mainly used for rose wines, even if it is famous mostly for the Taurasi wine. Besides, you can find it in the 30% of guaranteed origin red wines from Furore, Ravello and Tramonti.
Piedirosso
The name derives from the extraordinary imagination of Neapolitans that compare the red stalks of the berries to the colour of the pigeon's leg: Piedirosso or Per'e Palummo. It is among the most common vineyards around Naples and along Amalfi Coast.
Being a historic vine, present throughout the region since the early 19th century, it possesses a fairly high sugar level and a relatively limited acidity.
Sciascinoso
It is a strong grapevine which produces heavy clusters that offer a good production. The special taste and colour of the wine are derived from the low level of sugar and fairly high acidity. It is mostly complemented along with other grapevines, to process guaranteed origin wines like the Campi Flegrei, the Rosso Frizzante Penisola Sorrentino and the Red wine Costa d’Amalfi. The usual role of Sciascinoso is to be the major part of the production of Lacryma Christi wine.
Fenile
Traditionally, the name of this grapevine comes from the colour of the grapes that is yellow like hay. As the grapes start to mature, the grape yard has to be harvested, so that it doesn’t rot. Nurtured under pergolas, in groups of two to three plants per post, it offers a modest production of grapes per bunch. The acidity is maintained on an average while the level of sugar is relatively high.
Ginestra
A grapevine that requires heavy pruning and gives a good production, despite the modest weight of the bunch. At maturity, the level of sugar is quite high and the acidity content is strong. As the grapes mature, they have low levels of sugar and high acidity. The major characteristic of the wine is a strong scent of broom, from which the grape derives its name.
Pepella
The name is attributed to the cluster bunch shape, which is next to normal-sized berries, small berries like grains of pepper. It is believed that the production of this variety began in the late 19th century in large municipalities north of Tramonti, Ravello and Scala. Anyhow, only a few very dated plants are preserved of this vine.
It is hard to find an aspect of the Amalfi Coast that is not astonishing.
Source: AmalfiCoast