Winemaker
Vittorio Verzillo
Appellation
IGT Terre del Volturno
Distribution Area
Delaware, New Jersey, and New York
Varieties
Asprinio, Casavecchia, Pallagrello Bianco, Pallagrello Nero
Vineyard
Just two small vineyards, two and a half hectares of land, planted in the early 2000s with the native Caserta grape varieties Pallagrello Bianco, Pallagrello Nero, and Casavecchia. The vines, traversing the initial layers of medium-heavy sandy/clayey soil, have now reached the Caiazzo sandstone.
They face the Matese massif on one side to the north, and Mount Taburno and the Sannio region on the other to the southeast.
The road leading to the Convento degli Angeli marks the border between the Ruviano vineyard, at 280 meters above sea level, facing north and planted with Pallagrello Bianco, and the Castel Campagnano vineyard, at 260 meters above sea level, facing southeast and planted with all three grape varieties.
Farming
Organic
About Aia delle Monache
“We have chosen, to follow our passions and to get involved, to commit ourselves for the pleasure of doing it, to give life to something that belongs to us and represents us, having only one goal clear: to create with tailoring care, wines that are expression of the territory and follow the trend of the different vintages.” – Vittorio & Michele
Brothers Vittorio and Michele Verzillo began Aia delle Monache in 2003, having always shared a great passion for wine. They were accountants by trade, but both have had formal sommelier training. Growing up in the province of Caserta, these brothers were familiar with the lore of the local but forgotten Pallagrello, Asprinio and Casavecchia grapes. When the opportunity came along to purchase a vineyard of Pallagrello, they knew they couldn’t pass it up.
“Unfortunately, Michele left us too soon in 2022. We are left with his kind and jovial spirit and his passion, which we continue to build upon as we continue the company.”
Now in his 50s, Vittorio approaches his winemaking in a truly humble way, willing to learn and listen to whoever will give them the time. Unlike so many of the folks around them, the brothers didn’t have generations of family winemaking history to guide them, so at times they’ve leaned on those that do.
This approach easily led them into the world of natural winemaking, with their main focus on producing wines of place. The two and a half hectares they purchased were originally planted on 2003 in the village of Castel Campagnano, a stunning part of Campania that is very much influenced by the Parco Matese to the north and the Taburno to the Southeast, both of which provide a cooling effect to these vineyards. Here you will find medium heavy soil with layers of both sand and clay.
2 Commerce Dr. Suite 3 Moorestown, NJ 08057
Office 800.245.0184
Fax 856.985.5848
