Cantina Giardino Volpe Rosa 2022

Antonio and Daniela De Gruttola founded Cantina Giardino in Ariano Irpino during the late 1990s, initially producing wine in a friend's garage for personal consumption. The name honors Professor Giardino, whose cellar hosted their early experiments. What began as a passion project among friends became one of Italy's most respected natural wine estates when they officially launched the winery in 2003.

Their mission centered on rescuing abandoned old-vine parcels that local farmers could no longer afford to maintain. Industrial agriculture had devastated Irpinia's viticultural heritage, with growers ripping out indigenous varieties to plant international grapes or abandoning vineyards entirely. Antonio—who studied food technology before specializing in viticulture and oenology in Piedmont—and Daniela began seeking out neglected sites planted with Aglianico, Greco, Fiano, and the rare Coda di Volpe, some with vines exceeding 100 years old.

Today, Cantina Giardino works approximately seven hectares of organically farmed vineyards spread across sixteen parcels throughout Avellino province, each with distinct microclimates and soil compositions. In the cellar, Antonio maintains an uncompromising approach: spontaneous fermentation without temperature control, aging in terracotta amphorae (some handmade by Daniela), sandstone vessels, and casks of local chestnut, cherry, and acacia wood. The wines see no fining, no filtration, and typically no added sulfites.

Local artists design new labels for each vintage, giving every release a distinctive visual identity that matches the individuality of the wines themselves. Cantina Giardino has become a reference point for natural winemaking in southern Italy, influencing a generation of producers seeking authentic expression over commercial polish.

Discover more from Cantina Giardino: Drogone Aglianico, Fiano Gaia, Greco Sophia Orange, and Vino Rosato Frizzante. Browse our best-selling natural wines for more outstanding producers.

Irpinia occupies the mountainous interior of Campania, far from the coastal glamour of the Amalfi Coast and Naples. This rugged, landlocked territory sits within the province of Avellino, where elevations regularly exceed 500 meters and winters bring snow to the highest vineyards. The landscape bears the scars of the devastating 1980 earthquake that displaced thousands and left many villages abandoned—yet this tragedy inadvertently preserved old vineyards that might otherwise have been replanted with higher-yielding modern varieties.

Volcanic soils define Irpinia's viticultural character. Ancient eruptions deposited mineral-rich ash and pumice across the hillsides, creating well-drained soils that stress vines into producing intensely flavored, low-yielding fruit. The continental climate—marked by significant day-night temperature swings—preserves natural acidity while allowing full phenolic ripeness. These conditions suit indigenous varieties that have adapted over centuries.

Campania's wine heritage stretches back to Greek colonization in the eighth century BCE. The Romans prized Falernian wine from this region above all others. Today, Irpinia holds three of southern Italy's most respected DOCG appellations: Taurasi (Aglianico), Fiano di Avellino, and Greco di Tufo. Beyond these celebrated whites and the structured Aglianico reds, the area preserves obscure varieties like Coda di Volpe—and its even rarer pink-skinned mutation—that exist nowhere else.

Natural winemaking has found a home in Irpinia's high-altitude vineyards. Producers working with old vines and minimal intervention have revitalized the region's reputation, demonstrating that Campania offers far more than easy-drinking southern Italian wines.

Explore more natural wines from Campania and browse our Italian natural wine selection. For rosé enthusiasts, discover our rosé wine collection.