I have to confess that I drink mostly reds, except for muscadet with my (raw) oysters and if I could afford them I would treat myself to white burgundies. Let’s get back to the topic at hand. For Wine Blogging Wednesday #20, Wine for Newbies prompted us to explore the world of white wines beyond the usual Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
I tasted a few whites I did not know beforehand. My choice is ‘Falanghina del Taburno’ (the grape is falanghina) produced by Cantina del Taburno in Benevento, the least populated province of the region of Campania (main city: Naples). Located at the foot of Mount Taburno, hence the name. 
This area has been producing wines for about 2000 years and Aglianico might be the best known local grape.
The ‘Falanghina’ that I tasted was a 2004 vintage. The wine displays good fruit and a nice nose, is full bodied, complex with a long yet subtle finish. It is good company for pasta with seafood and seafood dishes and mild cheeses. It can also be offered as an aperitif.
The grapes are harvested early October. It is an excellent value as it can be found for around $13.00. A regional fair dedicated to ‘Falanghina’ takes place every year at the end of September in Sant’Agata dei Goti, a good time of the year to visit Europe.
I could not find a good picture of the label so instead I chose a photo of the Cantina del Taburno’s tasting room to illustrate this piece.
Technorati tags: serge the concierge, wine blogging wednesday, WBW #20, falanghina, italy , wine for newbies, wine
