The Falanghina
Grape
An ancient white grape variety from the Campania region of southern Italy, Falanghina is known for its crisp, refreshing wines with high acidity, offering flavors of citrus, pear, and floral notes, sometimes with a hint of spice or minerality. It is often enjoyed young to capture its vibrant freshness.
Falanghina
Grape History
Falanghina is an ancient white wine grape variety that is believed to have origins in Campania, a region in southern Italy. The grape has a long and storied history, with records dating back to Roman times when it was considered a prestigious and high-quality grape variety. The name "Falanghina" is thought to come from the Latin word "falanga," which refers to the stakes used to support the vines.
Historically, Falanghina was primarily grown in the volcanic soils of Campania, particularly in the areas of Benevento and Avellino. However, in recent years, the grape has also been cultivated in other parts of Italy, such as Puglia and Sicily. This expansion of its cultivation has introduced a greater diversity of terroirs and winemaking styles, allowing for an exploration of the grape's full potential.
Falanghina is known for producing crisp, aromatic white wines with notes of citrus, pear, and floral aromas. It is often used to produce still, dry white wines that are perfect for pairing with seafood dishes, salads, and light appetizers. The grape's natural acidity and minerality make it a versatile and food-friendly option for wine enthusiasts.
In recent years, Falanghina has gained popularity both in Italy and internationally, thanks to its unique flavor profile and its ability to express the characteristics of its terroir. As a result, more winemakers are investing in the cultivation of this grape variety and exploring new winemaking techniques to bring out its best qualities.
The future of Falanghina looks bright, as its increasing popularity and versatility make it a valuable asset in the world of wine. With continued investment in vineyard management and winemaking practices, Falanghina has the potential to become a flagship white grape variety for Italy, showcasing the unique characteristics of its terroir and delighting wine lovers around the world.
Introduction
Hello, my name is Franklin Laurel - Welcome!
I started drinking wine in 1992 when I was in my early twenties and recently married. Like many other young Southern Californians, it started out with White Zinfandel. As we were a couple of young DINKs just beginning life together, and on a budget, our go-to-wine was Sutter Home White Zinfandel, which tasted a lot like wine coolers and probably cost at the time $2.49. If we really were going to splurge, we would step it up and buy Beringer White Zinfandel for $2.99. Those were the days....
After a little time, we decided to get fancy. We stepped up our game and bought some wonderful 2-Buck Chuck from Trader Joe's. The Charles Shaw (Trader Joe's Exclusive Label) wine, also known as 2-Buck-Chuck extended our pallet into Reds for only $1.99 a bottle. Over the years we continued to grow in our understanding of wine (finally ran into some good wine) and we slowly kept buying better and better bottles.
Our first wine club purchase was from Kenwood's Vineyards, in Kenwood, California located in Sonoma Valley, right next to the famous Napa Valley. I began to learn about tobacco leather, and earthiness, and lots of other strange terminology when tasting their signature Zinfandels (of the red variety). So that is how it all began.
Fast forward a couple decades, and we have been members of five different wine clubs, and now have a passion for California's red wines. My favorite by far is Cabernet Sauvignon, while my wife fancies a good Syrah, Malbec, or Merlot - but she also loves the smell of a wine barrel room, which is all about the notes of Cabernet Sauvignon.
As I come across great wine resources and useful information that I find in planning my own wine trips, I will share here for anyone that might stumble across my humble website.
Cheers! - Franklin Laurel