GROTTA DI FUTA

Grotta di Futa is the standard expression of Camaiola at the Lavorgna Family estate — and it is, in its category, a wine of remarkable completeness and genuine individuality. The Camaiola grape was misnamed Barbera del Sannio for generations before Giuseppe Lavorgna's research at the National Research Council and his subsequent establishment of the DOC formally restored to it the name it had always deserved. His estate brings this exclusive grape of the Sannio — found at the highest elevations of Campania — to its maximum olfactory and gustatory expression through a method that is genuinely original.

The sensory profile of Camaiola wine begins with the colour: intense ruby red with clear violet reflections that signal a wine of concentration and character. The nose is described with accuracy as an explosion of scents — from fresh flowers (rose, violet, geranium) through ripe and crunchy red fruit (plum, blood orange, currant) to underwood fruits and hints of vegetable notes that add aromatic complexity and specificity.

The palate is full, intense, and soft — qualities that coexist in Camaiola more naturally than in many varieties, because the grape's inherent generosity of fruit is balanced by a tannin structure that is soft and well integrated rather than assertive. The finish is rich and fruity, with a persistence that rewards the patient drinker and a balance that makes each sip as inviting as the last.

Grotta di Futa belongs at the table alongside the full range of rich southern Italian preparations: pasta of intensity, braised meats, game, and the aged cheeses that are the signature of the Sannio table. It is equally compelling alongside red meat tartare, sliced bresaola, and semi-processed cheeses — a versatility that reflects the genuine completeness of the Camaiola grape in its most accessible expression.

Available through UniqueWines. A Jewel of Sannio.