Ciro Picariello, Brut Contadino NV

Ciro Picariello and his partner Rita Guerriero launched their winery in 2004 in Summonte, close to Avellino. Today the vineyard spans 15 hectares across two villages: Summonte and Montefredane. The former benefits from volcanic-derived soil of rocks and clay, with the vines positioned at 650m altitude to benefit from the cooler climate. The latter has vines at 500m above sea level on solely clay soil. The two different areas give rise to different wines, but the commonality between the two is the winemaker’s careful tending of the vines. There are no insecticides, herbicides, pesticides, any kind of -cides allowed near the vines, so as to concentrate flavour and highlight the grapes themselves. Fiano is the primary grape grown, but other typical grapes of the region can be found here too: Greco, Falanghina, Piedirosso and Aglianico, to name a few.