Sold Out
Cantina Giardino

Primo Aprile Bianco 2018

Price: $39.95
Enter your email address below to be notified when this product is back in stock.
Tasting notes

Rovello Bianco is one of the rarest grapes in Italy, grown on just a handful of parcels in the Taurasi zone, and Cantina Giardino's version shows exactly why it deserves attention: high-toned citrus peel, dried apricot, and a mineral smokiness from volcanic soils, all held together by piercingly fresh acidity. At 11.5% ABV with 8 days of skin contact, it walks the line between a delicate white and a grippy orange wine with real precision.

BodyFruitTanninAcidity
Dried ApricotLemon PeelHoneyVolcanic Mineral
  • Style: Dry, light-bodied orange wine; pale amber; citrus peel, apricot, volcanic mineral; 11.5% ABV
  • Grapes & Terroir: 100% Rovello Bianco (Grecomusc'); organic; 90-year-old vines; volcanic soils, Taurasi zone, Irpinia
  • Winemaking: 8-day skin maceration; hand-pressed vertical wooden press; native yeast fermentation in chestnut, acacia, and Slavonian oak; 8 months chestnut cask; unfiltered, unfined, no additions
  • Serving: Serve at 50-55F; no decanting needed; drink now or hold 2-4 years
  • Pairing: Salt cod, fried seafood, raw shellfish, Pecorino di Carmasciano, olive oil pasta
  • Similar To: For fans of Radikon, Gravner, or skin-contact Fiano who want something even rarer

Primo Aprile Bianco is made from 100% Rovello Bianco, a near-extinct indigenous white grape of Irpinia historically called Grecomusc'. The variety was formally added to Italy's official register of autochthonous grapes in 2009. Fruit comes from a 90-year-old parcel grown over volcanic soils in the Taurasi zone of Irpinia, Campania. The grape's unusually large skin-to-pulp ratio means yields are low and skin contact has an outsized effect on texture and aromatics.

For the 2018 vintage, the grapes were macerated on the skins for 8 days, then hand-pressed with a vertical wooden press. Fermentation is spontaneous with native yeasts, carried out in a combination of chestnut, acacia, and Slavonian oak casks. The wine aged 8 months in chestnut casks followed by 3 months in bottle. No fining or filtration before bottling.

The result is a pale amber, lightly tannic white with high acidity, mineral depth, and aromatic lift. Expect notes of dried citrus peel, apricot, yellow flowers, and a saline, smoky finish that reflects the volcanic soils. At 11.5% ABV it is light on its feet while remaining textured and complex from the extended skin contact.

The wine's high acidity and light tannins make it a natural match for fried seafood, salt-cod dishes, or raw shellfish. It also works well alongside aged sheep's milk cheeses like Pecorino di Carmasciano from Irpinia itself. Try it with pasta dressed in olive oil and preserved lemon.

Wine details

Dry/Sweet:, Dry
Wine Type:, Orange Wine
Wine Style:, Light Body
Grapes:, Rovello Bianco
Farming:, Organic
Vintage:, 2018
Alcohol:, 11.5%
Country:, Italy
Region:, Campania
Appellation:, Campania IGT
Bottle Size:, 750ml
Sugar Level:, Zero Added Sugar

We will process and ship your order in 2-3 business days, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking as soon as the Carrier scans the shipping label.

Ground shipping time depends on location, here's a breakdown:

West Coast: 1-2 business days
Midwest: 3-4 business days
East Coast: 5 business days

Process time is not shipping time. Shipping time starts from the days successive to the day of shipping, after the order has been processed.

See here our shipping policy.


Important Compliance Requirements

FedEx and other carriers we might occasionally use can only deliver wine to customers who are 21 years or older. Someone must be at the address to receive the package, carriers don't just drop a package and leave. They must ensure the person receiving the wine is 21 or older.


Re-shipping a Package

If a package is returned to us after three failed delivery attempts, we can only re-ship the wine upon payment of a re-shipping fee, to be determined based on the shipping address and number of bottles. Shipping wine is extremely expensive. We are sorry about this, but we have no other choice. Please make sure there's always someone at the address you enter as your shipping address.

If you'd like to receive a refund for a package that was returned to us after FedEx made three delivery attempts, we can do that but we must keep a $20 refund fee; FedEx charges us a lot of money for returns, unfortunately, I can't stress this enough.


Re-routing a Package

If you'd like to reroute a package after it's been shipped, we can do so for a $20 re-routing fee. We cannot re-route a package across state borders. For any change of address, please contact us as soon as possible, ideally within 1-2 days from placing the order or we cannot guarantee we'll be able to reroute or change your order's shipping address.


Canceling an Order

If you'd like to cancel an order after it's been shipped, we can do so upon payment of a small cancellation fee – the amount depends on the size of the order. Carriers charge us a lot of money to recall a package en-route.


Heat/Frost damage

We are not responsible for heat- or frost-related issues. We offer ice-packs upon request. Please let us know if you think that there could be heat-related issues. If we don't hear anything from you regarding weather issues before an order is shipped, or if you don't request a hold due to the weather, we are not responsible for heat/frost damage.


Placed an order. What next?

1. You will receive an order confirmation email with your order summary.*

2. As soon as your order ships from the warehouse, usually within 2-3 business days, this applies to all shipping rates, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with your tracking information. 2DAY shipping refers to shipping time; we still need 2-3 business days to prepare an order. We need to pick and pack, QA, add printed collateral, and palletize the orders.

3. Please track your package using the tracking service.

4. The carrier will attempt delivery a maximum of 3 times. After 3 delivery attempts, your package will be sent back to our warehouse.**

*Please ensure your email address is correct; otherwise, you will not receive the order and shipping confirmation emails.

**If delivery is attempted 3 times without success, or if you fail to retrieve your package from the carrier depot by the stated deadline, the shipping fee will not be refunded to the customer.

Returns Policy

If you are not satisfied with your purchase, please contact us at (424) 414-2040 or via e-mail at hello@primalwine.com between 9 am and 5 pm Pacific Standard Time, Monday through Sunday, we would like to understand and try to solve your concerns. We can offer refunds only as store credit.

Producer profile

Cantina Giardino

Cantina Giardino was founded in 2003 by Antonio and Daniela De Gruttola, though the project began informally in the late 1990s when they and a group of friends started making wine in the garage of a friend named Professor Giardino, which is how the winery got its name. Antonio studied food technology and later specialized in viticulture and oenology in Piedmont. The winery is based in Ariano Irpino, in the mountainous interior of Campania's Irpinia subregion.

The De Gruttolas farm approximately 7 hectares of vines spread across multiple parcels in Irpinia, all managed organically. They specifically sought out old vineyards — 50 years and older — from farmers who had always worked without chemical treatments, many of whom were at risk of abandoning or uprooting the land. Parcels are planted with indigenous varieties including Aglianico, Fiano, Greco, Coda di Volpe, and Rovello Bianco, set at altitude over volcanic soils. Vines are trained in traditional fashion at low density, often sharing parcels with olive and fruit trees.

In the cellar, Antonio vinifies intuitively and the process shifts with each vintage. Fermentations are spontaneous, without temperature control, and can run for months. Aging vessels include terracotta and sandstone amphorae, and large casks made from local woods including chestnut, acacia, and cherry. Wines are bottled unfiltered and unfined, with no additions, including no added sulfur.

Wine region

Campania, Italy

Irpinia lies in the northeastern part of Avellino province, in the lower reaches of the Apennine mountains in southern Campania. Vineyards sit at elevations ranging from roughly 300 to 600 meters above sea level on a mix of volcanic, calcareous-clay, and ash-rich soils. The combination of altitude, strong diurnal temperature swings, and a long growing season pushes harvest dates later than almost anywhere else in Campania, sometimes into November for Aglianico. These conditions preserve acidity and develop complex aromatic profiles in both red and white varieties.

Irpinia received DOC status in 2005 and is home to three of Campania's four DOCG appellations: Taurasi (Aglianico), Fiano di Avellino, and Greco di Tufo. The Taurasi zone, where the Primo Aprile vineyard is located, is defined by volcanic and limestone soils at 400 to 500 meters. Indigenous whites like Fiano and Greco dominate the hills crossed by the Sabato river, while Aglianico is concentrated along the Calore river valley. Rovello Bianco, locally called Grecomusc', is grown in tiny quantities around the plateaus of Taurasi, Mirabella Eclano, and Bonito and falls outside the DOC framework, labeling instead as Campania IGT.

Frequently asked question

We will process and ship your order in 2-3 business days, you will receive a shipping confirmation email with tracking as soon as the Carrier scans the shipping label.

Ground shipping time depends on location, here's a breakdown:

West Coast: 1-2 business days
Midwest: 3-4 business days
East Coast: 5 business days

Process time is not shipping time. Shipping time starts from the days successive to the day of shipping, after the order has been processed.

See here our shipping policy.

Signature on delivery is mandatory for wine deliveries. Please make sure someone is at the shipping address to sign for the package.

If applicable, please consider delivering the package to a business address to ensure someone is available to sign for the package.

We also have the option of delivering the package to a Carrier's store for pickup. Please reach out to us to coordinate.

Carrier will try to delivery a package up to three times before returning the package to us.

See here our shipping policy.

If you miss a delivery and a package gets returned to us we have two options:

1) Reship the package right away: due to the very high cost of shipping and returns, we must charge a re-shipping fee to be determined based on package size and shipping destination.

2) Consolidate the returned package with your next order: this option is free of charge and it's the most popular option.

See here our shipping policy.

This collection features our best selling natural wine from all around the world. It's the best place to start you natural wine journey! Browse one of the largest selections of natural wine available online in the United States.

Primal Wine Natural Wine Club is the best way to discover natural wine. Let us do the heavy-lifting, sit back, and relax. We will send you an ever-changing selection of natural wine made by top producers from around the world.

Our customers love Primal

I'm just copying and pasting from the hundreds messages we received, no pseudo reviews!
Erin C.

We love our membership so far and can't wait until our next shipment.

Jennifer B.

A note to say that we are loving the tasting notes sheet you’re sending!

James S.

I'm really happy to find Primal – your selections are terrific. 

Samuel M.

Love your company, always a great wine selection. 

Chelsea V.

I love what you guys do!

What Is | Primal Wine

What is natural wine?

Natural wine is a type of wine made in small batches from organic or biodynamic grapes with minimal intervention.
What Is Biodynamic Wine Info Cards | Primal Wine

What is Biodynamics?

Biodynamic wine is wine made from grapes farmed biodynamically. Biodynamic farming is a holistic approach.
What Is Organic Wine Info Cards | Primal Wine

What is organic wine?

Organic wine is made with grapes farmed organically. Organic farming is an alternative to conventional farming.
What Is Vegan Wine Info Cards | Primal Wine

What is vegan wine?

Vegan wine is wine made without using animal products during the fining phase of the clarification process.