Giovanni Iannucci
Giovanni Iannucci is a young “garagiste” making artisanal wines in Guardia Sanframondi, a town nestled in the hills of Sannio Benevento in northern Campania. Fueled by memories of helping his father, Dante, with the harvest and sale of grapes to the local cooperative, Giovanni decided to return to his hometown in 2012 to take over the 2ha of family vineyards and convert the garage into a small and tidy cellar. Since the beginning, Giovanni has chosen to cultivate his vines using natural methods, like his grandparents did, without chemical or toxic agents and only green manure as fertilizer. The vines are farmed organically with particular attention to keep copper and sulfur use to a minimum, using extracts of natural substances such as algae and propolis instead to help the vines stimulate their natural self-defense against diseases. Vineyards are split between the regions of Guardia Sanframondi and Castelvenere in the northeast of Campania on the border of Molise. Giovanni works with the traditional local varieties of Falanghina, Barbera del Sannio (genetically distinct from the Barbera found in Piemonte), and Trebbiano Toscano, all planted at 150-380m elevation in predominantly clay-limestone and tuffaceous soils. The wines are made following a natural and non-invasive style. Grapes are hand-harvested, and vinifications are solely with native yeast with a brief maceration on the skins for the white varieties. No enological products are used except small quantities of SO2, and there is no fining or filtration. The result is a set of fresh yet profound wines with a strong territorial imprint reflecting the traditions of the past.
