Taurasi DOCG is the flagship wine of the Campania region in southern Italy. It is a red wine only denomination made from Aglianico grapes grown in the commune of Taurasi and 16 others (listed below) in the Irpinia hills in Avellino Province east of Naples (Napoli). It was promoted to DOCG status in 1993, the first DOCG given to a region from Southern Italy. See also Irpinia Campi Taurasini DOC.

Communes (17): Bonito. | Castelfranci. | Castelvetere sul Calore. | Fontanarosa. | Lapio. | Luogosano. | Mirabella Eclano. | Montefalcione. | Montemarano. | Montemileto. | Paternopoli. | Pietradefusi. | Sant’Angelo all’Esca. | San Mango sul Calore. | Taurasi. | Torre le Nocelle. | Venticano.

Terroir: ‘Calcareous and volcanic hills,’ (Oz Clarke: 2015, p.255).

Vineyard area: 1,000 ha.

Winemaking: The DOCG stipulates 85-100% Aglianco plus 0-15% other red grapes permitted in Avellino province. The wines age for three years, one of which must be in wood. Riserva wines age for four years. 

Wine style: ‘Best drunk ten years after the harvest,’ (Oz Clarke: 2015, p.255).

With food: Doug Wregg of Les Caves de Pyrène suggests (in his July 2011 wine list) Taurasi’s ‘ripe tannins make [Taurasi] a good accompaniment to the local salamis and cheerful rustic gatto di patate. Or, when in Campania, assay it with the rugby-ball shaped local pizza containing provolo (a fresh cow’s cheese), small sweet tomatoes and basil; melanzane (aubergine) and zucchine (courgettes); friarielli and salsiccie; fior di latte (mozzarella).’

Wineries

No certification: Antonio Caggiano. | Cantina Lonardo. | Colle di San Domenico. | Contrade di Taurasi. | D’Aione. | Donnachiara. | Feudi di San Gregorio. | Lonardo–see Contrade di Taurasi. | Luigi Tecce. | Mastroberardino. | Minetti Ornella. | Quintodecimo. | Salvatore Molettieri. | Sabino Loffredo. | Petilia. | San Paolo. | Selvanova. | Struzziero. | Tecce. | Tenuta Cavalier Pepe. | Terredora di Paolo. | Terre Colte. | Vesevo. | Villa Raiano. | Vinosia.