It is known that when Irpinia enters your heart it never comes out and even the generations that seemed to have drifted away come back to take root and plant new vineyards.
It is the story of the Ponterotto Farm and the Di Pietro family, with the young siblings Antonio, Gaetano and Maria Luisa who feel Irpini inside themselves. As children they went from Avellino to Mirabella to visit their grandparents with their mother Antonietta and father Pasquale.
Grandfather Antonio and grandmother Antonietta accompanied them to play on the banks of the river Calore and told of ancient traditions and customs. These places and stories have ignited the passion for indigenous grapes and made love and passion for Irpinia blossom in the hearts of the siblings.
In the clear waters of the Calore, kids liked to cool off during the summer heat that can be strong in southern Italy. The favourite place was where the ancient Roman bridge over the Appia stands majestically, now called "Ponte Rotto", an immense heritage of archeology and history for Mirabella.
The bridge crossed the river Calore of this rich land, and for centuries allowed the crossing of armies and merchants who reached Puglia along the Appian Way to embark towards the East.
It would be the Ponte Rotto that will inspire young people and this is the name of their company.
In fact, thirty years later, the boys who had in the meantime become established professionals, with the pride of the cultural background inherited from their grandparents and cherished with affection, decided to enhance the inherited lands.
They acquired other lands and, in honour of the memory of their grandparents, they dedicated themselves in their free time to defending the indigenous viticulture of the area, relaunching the oldest biotypes with improved characteristics. They planted some varieties of wines such as Aglianico, Falanghina and Greco, whose origins date back to Greek colonization and Roman civilization.
And here the hills of the generous Terra Irpina, affected by strong temperature variations that create an optimal and beneficial condition for the vines, reciprocated a lot of care by donating the best grapes from which the prestigious wines of the Ponterotto Company are obtained.
Different wines for different territories, in Mirabella Eclano, the town of the Museum of the Cart and the Mysteries of Cartapesta, “Perzechè” was born, a Falanghina with aromatic notes typical of the grape. Perhaps the best-known grape of Irpinia but which competes in excellence with other grape varieties.
As well, on the hills of Santa Lucia, a fraction of Santa Paolina, the Greco “Narciso” was born, a structured and elegant wine, accompanied by good acidity. Just like this territory where the land is generous but can be harsh with those who live in it and know something about it, the town of Santa Lucia destroyed by a landslide and rebuilt further upstream.
In the area of the village of Montemarano, on the other hand, “Helea” was born, an Aglianico with organoleptic characteristics of particular value, refined on the palate obtained from centuries-old vines cultivated with the spurred cordon system.
Falanghina, Greco di Tufo or Aglianico are wines that deserve a journey to discover Irpinia because tasting them in local cellars you can appreciate the nuances of the colours of the area and the warmth of the people who add a unique note to the taste experience.
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