The farm

The farm has been working in the agribusiness for centuries. The Lonardo Family focuses both on the traditional vine-growing technique and experimentation in the wine cellar. The brand “Contrade di Taurasi” was born in 1998; its business philosophy is based on clear and unavoidable values:
• Using raw materials from their own vineyard alone;
• Testing new agronomical and oenological techniques not forgetting the tradition;
• Optimizing production methods in order to achieve a good value for money;
• Using autochthonous yeasts to bring out the typical organoleptic characteristics of its wines.

THE TECHNICAL STAFF:
The family-owned farm has also a remarkable technical staff because wine can be brought to high levels of quality only through scientific research and testing.
The person in charge of the wine cellar: Prof. Alessandro Lonardo. Oenologist: Maurizio de Simone from Pro.Vite.
Microbiologists:
Prof. Giancarlo Moschetti, University of Palermo.
Prof. Nicola Francesca, University of Palermo
Oenological chemist: Prof. Raffaele Romano, Federico II, Naples.
Ampelography expert: Antonella Monaco, Federico II University, Naples.
Agronomist: Doc. Antonio Di Pietro

+ The Lonardo family

The grape variety

Aglianico is the most important grape variety, it is the king of the autochthonous vines, and the Taurasi DOCG takes its origins from it. Also Taurasi Riserva  takes its origin from it, but only during some peak years. There is also a not so fine variety of red wine, called  Aglianico Irpinia DOC.
The Grecomusc’ deserves a special word. It comes from an autochthonous vine on an  ungrafted vine.
The experimental wine production methods, developed with contributions from The Federico II University of Naples and the University of Palermo, gave very interesting results.