d'Araprì is one of the southern wine producers I love most. A courageous choice by Girolamo D'Amico, Louis Rapini and Ulrico Priore who in 1979, now 35 years ago, began their venture within the enormous and varied Italian wine landscape. They were and still are jazz musicians – the jazz musicians of the Italian Metodo Classico.
A common entrepreneurial story, you might say – not exactly; because the three friends decided to dedicate themselves to one thing only: sparkling wine production using Metodo Classico in the small town of San Severo, in the province of Foggia. The courage lies in making sparkling wine right there, in the south! The 35th year – a long marriage of four: the three friends and the Metodo Classico!
And so they decided to treat themselves to a little indulgence: a limited run of 3,500 bottles of spumante (Metodo Classico, naturally) from Bombino and Montepulciano grapes vinified as a white wine, dressed and numbered by hand, scrupulously. After 48 months, disgorgement is carried out by hand, without adding dosage syrup, two months before release.
The result is an elegant bottle that is "golden" in every respect – the dressing appears to be a nuance of that golden yellow that distinguishes this wine. It gives an immediate impression of purity.
The perlage is elegant and refined, with tight, tiny bubbles.
Notes of spice, bread crust, butter, yellow fruit and above all citrus.
A fresh acidity, an astonishing persistence.
Pairs beautifully with seafood dishes, especially crudo alla barese or shellfish – though I drink it on its own, pure.
If you haven't bought a bottle yet, hurry up – run!
Congratulations again to d'Araprì, and may there be 100 more of these wines!
What do you think?
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