Tenuta del Meriggio: Wines as fresh and pure as the Irpinia terroir

Tenuta del Meriggio, founded in 2010 by Bruno Pizza and his wife Nunzia Guerriero, produces sustainable, terroir-driven IGT, DOC, and DOCG wines from estate-grown, native varietals Falanghina, Fiano di Avellino, and Aglianico.

Tenuta del Meriggio, located on the hills of the Serra di Montemiletto, by the Passo della Serra in the renowned Southern Italian winemaking region of Irpinia, enjoys optimal conditions for grape growing including nutrient-rich calcareous-clay and sandy volcanic soil, a Mediterranean climate characterized by hot summers tempered by cool, moist breezes coming off the Tyrrhenian Sea, cold winters, and warm sunny days paired with cool nights.

Tenuta del Meriggio, named after the term used to describe the intense midday sun, creates wines that celebrate the unique terroir of this prestigious hillside winemaking territory.

Italian wine educator, brand ambassador, and writer Susannah Gold gave members of the wine media and trade the opportunity to meet Tenuta del Meriggio Producer Emilia Rita Pizza at Tomohiro Sato’s Winebar Creston in Chinatown, New York City. We tried three wines including:

Tenuta del Meriggio Falanghina Campania IGT

Grape Composition: 100% Falanghina

Production: Fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks

Flavor Profile: Medium-bodied, with balanced acidity and minerality, aromas of citrus, orchard, and tropical fruit, and notes of ripe lemons, peaches, pears, pineapples, and dried herbs

Tenuta del Meriggio Fiano di Avellino DOCG

Grape Composition: 100% Fiano

Production: Fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged three months on the lees

Flavor Profile: Elegant and medium-bodied, with vibrant acidity and minerality, aromas of white and yellow flowers, and citrus, orchard, and summer fruit, and notes of lemons, pears, and beeswax

Tenuta del Meriggio Irpinia Aglianico DOC

Grape Composition: 100% Aglianico

Production: Fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks

Flavor Profile: Well-balanced and structured, with bright acidity and tannins, aromas of mixed berries, dark stone fruit, and smoke, and notes of fresh raspberries, cherries, plums, and pepper

My favorite was the Fiano di Avellino, but there was a delightful freshness and vivacity to all three wines that is emblematic of both Tenuta del Meriggio’s winemaking philosophy and the distinct terroir of Irpinia.