To refer to Taurasi as one would to any other wine is an understatement, if not an injustice. Taurasi DOCG is myth and legend; it belongs to the Olympus of great international wines and, as such, must be treated with the utmost care—if not outright reverence.
Frankly, there is a “before” and an “after” in the winemaking history of Irpinia, Campania, and the entire South of Italy. That moment is March 11, 1993: the day a decree from the Ministry of Agriculture established that Taurasi was ready and worthy of the DOCG (Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin) status. It was the first wine in the entire South to boast such a recognition, and it remained the only one for ten years until 2003, when Greco di Tufo and Fiano di Avellino joined the nation’s oenological elite.
Let’s be clear: for winemakers, wine explorers, and curious enthusiasts, there wasn’t a need for certification to prove it: that Taurasi was an exceptional wine was already well known. That recognition, however, had the merit of doing justice to the enological greatness of that specific wine, but also of an entire region, until then unjustly undervalued.
The winemaking history of the province of Avellino and of Taurasi is recounted in detail in thousands of publications and web pages, with meticulous descriptions of this Irpinia gem abounding, so if we may, allow us to digress from technicalities.
Moving away from pure technicalities, Taurasi feels less like a product of fermentation and more like a work of magic. After the minimum aging period (including at least 12 months in wood), we are certain that every cellar master tasting a newborn Taurasi DOCG feels the same: a mix of wonder, amazement, and satisfaction. It is a blend of expertise and a touch of alchemical mysticism.
What was once Aglianico has been transformed by time—its most precious ingredient—into Taurasi DOCG. The miracle is complete.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WITH TAURASI, THINGS GET SERIOUS.
At Cantine di Marzo, we strive to get the best out of every element, starting with the soil. We use grapes from Luogosano and Montemarano, where the calcareous soil matrix is enriched by volcanic surface ash from the Vesuvius eruption of 5,000 years ago—known as the “Avellino Pumice Eruption.”
For the winemaking process, which we carry out in our historic cellars in Tufo, we do everything to perfection and follow a process that leads Aglianico to become Taurasi DOCG day by day.
It all begins with a gentle pressing of the grapes and the fermentation of the free-run must in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. From that point on, as established by the Production Regulations, at least three years must pass before the process is considered complete.
Everything, therefore, is in the hands of time, as well as of our winemaker Vincenzo Mercurio and our cellarmen. Ten days of maceration at a relatively high temperature smooths out the rough edges of the Aglianico and begins to imbue the wine with a certain delicacy and elegance.
24 months of refinement in steel, 24 months of aging in tonneaux (500L) French oak and a year of aging in the bottle smooth out the tannins and enhance its sensorial elegance, until it is transformed into Taurasi with Controlled and Guaranteed Designation of Origin.
only 6,000 bottles
Each vintage of Cantine di Marzo Taurasi DOCG yields only about 6,000 bottles. This very limited production is perfectly suited for a wine that is truly out of the ordinary. Taurasi is a wine that astounds with its longevity, capable of evolving and improving for decades. Calling it a “noble wine” is not an exaggeration; it is a simple statement of fact.
For the label of Taurasi DOCG—the most prestigious red wine of the province of Avellino—Cantine di Marzo chose an illustration representing an imaginary interstellar honeymoon.
“We hope that Cantine di Marzo Taurasi DOCG can evoke an emotion equal to the most beautiful day of one’s life.
This wine, which comes from the past, carries the taster straight into an undefined time and space—certainly into the future and above all else.”.”
Ferrante di Somma, CEO of Cantine di Marzo
A jewel of this caliber should not be bound by the limits of space. While our online shop currently serves customers within Italy, we are happy to ship our Taurasi DOCG to collectors and enthusiasts worldwide.
If you wish to purchase Taurasi or any other label from our estate from abroad, please contact us directly at info@cantinedimarzo.it. Simply let us know your location and the number of bottles you require; we will provide a personalized quote including international shipping rates and delivery times.
Some of the 6,000 bottles produced each year are available in a few select wine shops and wineries throughout Italy (if you happen to find them, take advantage of it!), but our online shop always guarantees availability.
In any case, we Irpini are known for being particularly hospitable people. We’d be delighted to welcome you to our historic winery in Tufo, in the province of Avellino, where you can purchase Taurasi DOCG and other Cantine di Marzo wines, tour our winery, and perhaps even stop to taste your favorite wines in a place steeped in history.
In the province of Avellino, we are fortunate to be able to boast an important and extraordinary wine variety.
In addition to the Taurasi DOCG, we recommend trying the Irpinia Aglianico DOC Cantine di Marzo. This is its younger sibling and, as is often the case with those wines that haven’t yet reached full maturity, in a certain sense, even more lively and rebellious.
Or you might be interested in discovering one of the DOCG white wines produced in Irpinia.
The Fiano di Avellino DOCG Cantine di Marzo is a wine we are truly proud of.
