In the hills above Montemarano grow Aglianico vines that never succumbed to phylloxera. Adelina Molettieri replanted her family's historic plots by grafting from those survivors, preserving a lineage that reaches back more than a century.
Backstory
The estate sits in Contrada Chianzano, on the hills above Montemarano in the Irpinia zone of Campania. The family has farmed here since 1900. Adelina replanted the historic paternal vineyards using cuttings from old Aglianico vines that had survived phylloxera intact in the early twentieth century.
The Region
Montemarano is among the most highly regarded communes within the Taurasi zone, the heartland of Aglianico in Irpinia. Irpinia gained DOC status in 2005 and is home to three DOCG appellations: Taurasi for reds and Fiano di Avellino and Greco di Tufo for whites.
Vineyards & Farming
The estate works about 4 hectares of certified organic vineyards planted entirely to Aglianico, producing roughly 10,000 bottles a year. Some parcels carry vines around 70 years old. The family preserves an ancient training system known locally as Tennecchia, low bush vines on wooden stakes. Winemaking today is in the hands of the younger De Lisio generation, led by Marco and his siblings, who learned natural vinification from their neighbors at Cantina Giardino, one of Irpinia's pioneering natural estates. That mentorship shaped a zero-zero approach: no additives, native-yeast fermentation, and at most a touch of sulfur at bottling.
Winemaking
The wines are vinified from 100% Aglianico. The Don Michele macerates on the skins for roughly three weeks, then ages in stainless steel to keep the fruit fresh and the structure firm. The Taurasi ferments for around 24 days in steel, then ages roughly 22 months in oak, 6 months in barrique, and a further period in steel before release. The Cesine Irpinia Aglianico DOC comes from the oldest vines.
The Wines
The range centers on Aglianico in several registers: the structured Taurasi DOCG, the steel-aged Don Michele, the old-vine Cesine, an organic Campania Aglianico, and an organic Aglianico rosato made with a light maceration.
