Judging at Radici del Sud
Now in its 17th year (or rather having just completed its 17th year), Radici del Sud turns the spotlight on wines from indigenous vines and oils from Puglia, Basilicata, Campania, Calabria, Sicily, Abruzzo, Molise, and Sardegna.
Radici del Sud
Aside from probably Sicily and even Puglia itself, wines from southern Italy get less attention than those from central and northern Italy. The south has long served as a bulk wine producer for not only Italy but other areas in Europe. However, over the last few decades, producers have shifted from bulk into quality production.
As Katarina said in her recent piece, How Radici del Sud Highlights the Potential of Southern Italian Wines, the style of wine in southern Italy (and generally) has changed. Heavy, extracted, concentrated wines are giving way to fresher, more fruit-forward, and elegant wines.
Over the course of two days, wine experts and journalists gather at the castle Sannicandro di Bari to blind taste a wide swath of sparkling, white, rosé, red, sweet, and fortified wines. We sat at four different tables, two made up of Italian tasters and two of international judges. I was privileged to sit at a table with Richard Baudains, Katarina Andersson (Grapevine Adventures), Li Valentine (The Wining Hour), Lars Leicht, Paul Caputo, and winemaker Emiliana d’Angelo of Donato d’Angelo Wines.
Radici del Sud Judging Day 1
On day one, we tasted through some sparkling wines, whites (including Falanghina, Fiano, and Greco) in the morning. Break for lunch (so much amazing food in Puglia!). Then back at in the afternoon with rosés made from Montepulciano, Bombino Nero, Negro Amaro, Nero di Troia, Primitivo, Aglianico, Cannonau, Gaglioppo, and more.
This really drove home for me how many grapes Italy has!
In the evening we had dinner back at our hotel where Pietraventosa presented us with a vertical tasting of the winery’s Primitivo.
Radici del Sud Judging Day 2
The next morning we all trooped back to the castle for another round of judging. My panel tasted a series of red wines (so much Primitivo, Cannonau, Nero di Troia, and Aglianico Taurasi) followed by a round of sweet and fortified wines.
A brief rest back at the hotel then we were off to an amazing pizzeria where we got to meet the young winemakers behind Costa degli Dei. This up and coming region in Calabria (literally the Coast of the Gods) features grapes like Zibibbio, Magliocco Canino, Greco Nero, and Malvasia Nera.
We got to experience a variety of wines including:
- Cantine Benvenuto Zibibbo
- Origine & Identita metodo classico sparkling Zibibbo
- Casa Comerci Magliocco Canino rosé
- Cantina Masicei Magliocco Canino metodo classico rosé
- Marchisa Natus red blend of Magliocco Canino, Greco Nero, and Malvasia Nera
On day three, Radici del Sud revealed the winning wines and wineries in the morning. You can see all the winners here! In the afternoon, it opened its doors (or rather the castle’s doors) to the public for a walk around tasting of wines and olive oils.
I’m so happy and honored to have played a small role in the important work Radici del Sud is doing. Coming from a country where there are only underappreciated and unknown wine regions, I can truly appreciate myself what a great thing they’re doing for the southern Italian wine industry.