Pallagrello Bianco 'Riccio' Alepa 2021

The Pallagrello Bianco “Riccio” from the Ale.P.A winery is a fresh and elegant wine, born in the Caserta area from a historically cultivated white grape variety in the territory. Pallagrello Bianco was, in fact, one of the few varieties present in the famous Vigna del Ventaglio of the Real Sito di San Leucio near the Reggia di Caserta and was considered one of the noblest grape varieties overall. Rediscovered and enhanced over the last few decades, Pallagrello Bianco is proving to have remarkable potential. Vinified in purity, it offers a straightforward and Mediterranean white, with aromas of ripe fruit, floral hints, and aromatic herbs.

The wine Pallagrello Bianco “Riccio” is an ideal label to discover the true face of this ancient Caserta grape variety. Ale.P.A is a small artisanal reality that has been enhancing local indigenous grapes since the early 1990s. In the approximately 3 hectares of vineyards, there is mainly space for Pallagrello Bianco and Pallagrello Nero. The company philosophy is very clear: to stand out from the large wineries with a niche production dedicated to those who wish to taste wines that can speak directly and straightforwardly about the production territory. The management of the vineyards and the work in the winery follow practices oriented towards minimal intervention, precisely to preserve the varietal characteristics of these rare grape varieties and to make them known to all enthusiasts in their authentic form.

The “Riccio” Bianco is a pure Pallagrello, born from grapes coming from vineyards cultivated in the hilly area of Caiazzo, near Caserta. At the end of the harvest operations, the grapes are softly pressed and the free-run must is sent for fermentation in steel tanks, using only indigenous yeasts. Before bottling, the wine rests for 12 months in steel tanks. The wine presents itself with a beautiful golden color, bright and luminous. On the nose, it opens with delicate aromas of white flowers, aromatic herbs, aromas of yellow-fleshed fruit, and soft honeyed nuances. On the palate, it is intense and harmonious, with a juicy and fragrant. The finish is pleasantly balanced with a pronounced salty vein.