📜 Taurasi

Taurasi is an Italian protected designation of origin (PDO, DOCG status) for red wine from the province of Avellino in Campania. It has been in the EU register since 18 September 1973. The designation covers two types, Taurasi and Taurasi Riserva.

The single document names Aglianico N as the wine grape variety, also recorded under the synonyms Ellenica, Ellenico, Glianica and Glianico. No blend percentages are given.

The wine is intense ruby red tending to garnet, turning orange-tinged with age, and dry and full-bodied. Minimum total alcoholic strength is 12.00% vol for Taurasi and 12.50% vol for Riserva. Minimum sugar-free extract is 22 g/l and minimum total acidity 5.0 g/l as tartaric acid.

Ageing is mandatory. Taurasi must age for at least three years, of which at least one year in wooden barrels. Riserva must age for at least four years, of which at least eighteen months in wooden barrels. The maximum yield for both is 10,000 kg of grapes per hectare. The wines may carry topographical indications referring to a single vineyard ('Vigna').

The production area covers the whole territory of seventeen municipalities in the province of Avellino: Taurasi, Bonito, Castelfranci, Castelvetere sul Calore, Fontanarosa, Lapio, Luogosano, Mirabella Eclano, Montefalcione, Montemarano, Montemileto, Paternopoli, Pietradefusi, Sant'Angelo all'Esca, San Mango sul Calore, Torre le Nocelle and Venticano.

The specification describes hilly slopes along the Calore river on the Irpinia plateau, with soils that include pyroclastic material. Bottles are glass, up to 5 litres, in dark Bordeaux or Burgundy shape.