Greco di Tufo, the white wine with bubbles
May 9, 2014Greco di Tufo is a white wine made exclusively from Greco grapes and totally cultivated in the territories of Montefusco, Santa Paolina, Petruro and Tufo, in Irpinia. Both the winemaking and the aging must take place in stainless steel tanks. It is also one of the few white wines in Italy that can go through the process of aging.
This kind of wine may be elaborated into the category of "sparkling wine" through the traditional method of second fermentation in bottle. In this case, however, the wine must have aged for at least 36 months in bottle, counting from November 1st of the harvest’s year.
Greco di Tufo has a straw yellow color, more or less intense, and a fine, pleasant odor. The taste is dry and harmonious and it leaves a sense of freshness on the palate. While tasting it, you may find a pleasant hint of bitter almond and ripe peach. It has an alcoholic content equal to 11,5%, which is slightly higher in its sparkling version.
This wine has to be tasted at a temperature between 8° and 10° C. It is a fine accompaniment for dishes based on fish, crustaceans and shellfish. Greco di Tufo is great served alongside soft and not seasoned cheeses, and it is also the perfect accompaniment to risottos and white meats in general. The classic recipes see him paired with porcini mushroom risotto, pasta with kale or white bass. Sometimes it can also be enjoyed with local sweets and desserts. In its variant as a sparkling wine, it is very suitable as an aperitif or served with cold appetizers, namely cold cuts and hams.
Among the best vintages of Greco di Tufo, according to some of the most important wine guides, there are: Greco di Tufo DOCG - Vigna Cicogna - Benito Ferrara - Vintage 2009 and 2012, Greco di Tufo - Di Prisco - Vintage 2009 and 2012, Greco di Tufo DOCG - Cantine dell’Angelo - Vintage 2009 and 2012, Greco di Tufo DOCG - Pietracupa - Vintage 2009, Greco di Tufo DOCG - Tornante - Vadiaperti - Vintage 2009 and Greco di Tufo - Torricino - Vintage 2009 and 2012.