Montevetrano

In the early 1980s, a group of wine-loving friends from Rome came up with an idea to start making their own wine. One of them, Silvia Imparato, was a professional photographer and had no experience in agriculture. But she did have something useful: a plot of family land in the hills above Salerno in Campania, planted with vines, which her grandparents had passed on to her father and which had subsequently been inherited by her. What followed became an almost incredible story.

History

The story officially begins in 1983, when Silvia, together with her friend Riccardo Cotarella, one of Italy’s most sought-after consultant oenologists, decided to take this experiment seriously. After six years of work in the vineyard, the first true vintage was produced: a blend of 90 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon and 10 per cent Aglianico, named after the medieval castle towering over the estate, Montevetrano.

When American critic Robert Parker praised the 1991, 1992 and 1993 vintages and dubbed the wine the ‘Sassicaia of the South’, the estate’s reputation was established almost overnight. What began as a hobby producing a thousand bottles gained an international following.

At the end of 2024, Montevetrano was acquired by Tenuta Ulisse, an Abruzzo-based winery backed by the White Bridge Investments fund. Silvia Imparato remained with the project, and the stated aim was to preserve the estate’s identity whilst expanding its presence in international markets.

Vineyards

The estate covers a total of 26 hectares, of which around 5 are planted with vineyards, divided into several small plots. It is situated in San Cipriano Picentino, on the site of the former Bourbon royal estate, at an altitude of 100 metres above sea level, on a hilltop within the Monti Picentini Regional Park, north-east of Salerno.

The vineyards are surrounded by oak, chestnut and walnut trees, a citrus grove and olive trees. One plot, known as the ‘Horse Vineyard’, is surrounded by blackberry bushes and old-fashioned roses, next to an 18th-century country house. The vineyards cover a small area, which is one of the reasons why annual production remains limited, around 30,000 bottles.

Grapes

The flagship wine is made from three varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Aglianico, the great indigenous red variety of southern Italy. The original blend consisted of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Aglianico. Over time, the recipe has evolved to approximately 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Aglianico, although the proportions vary with each vintage depending on the harvest. The main range, produced separately from grapes sourced from Sannio in the province of Benevento, includes a red wine made from 100% Aglianico and a white blend of Fiano and Greco.

Winemaking

Winemaking has always been managed by Riccardo Cotarella, whose approach is direct: controlled fermentation in stainless steel, followed by ageing in new and refilled barriques. The aim is to produce a wine with structure and longevity, but remains accessible, to produce a ‘Super Campania’ style that Montevetrano started and is known for.

The Core red wine follow the same idea: extended skin contact and 10 months in new 225-litre barriques. For the Core white wine, cryomaceration is used, followed by extended ageing on the lees for 7–8 months with weekly bâtonnage.

Wines

The estate produces three wines.

The flagship wine, Montevetrano, IGT Colli di Salerno, is the wine that built the estate’s reputation.

The Core red wine, first produced in 2011, is a single-varietal Aglianico made from grapes grown in Guardia Sanframondi and Castelvenere in the province of Benevento.

The Core white wine, released in 2015 from the same region, is a blend of Fiano and Greco.