TRAERTE
Campania has long been linked with Aglianico - and for good reason - but the region is also home to some of the very best Italian white varietals, including Fiano, Greco, and Coda di Volpe. And it is Raffaele Troisi of Traerte (formerly known as Vadiaperti) that is helping to draw the spotlight to these grapes through his spectacular, single-varietal wines.
From a family of winemakers that has championed the wines of Irpinia since the end of the 19th century, Raffaele took the reins at Traerte in 1998 and is widely regarded as one of the most talented winemakers in Campania, if not all of Italy. Known as the master of Coda di Volpe, which is an unsung but incredibly ageworthy grape whose name translates to “tail of the fox,” Raffaele honors Irpinia’s indigenous varietals and its exceptional soils with his wines. That Traerte has only ever bottled single-varietal wines helps to showcase the magic of his vineyards.
Respecting of tradition and practicing organic farming, Raffaele forgoes the use of oak in his white wines to craft mineral-driven, balanced wines full of finesse and vibrancy from his 25-50 year old vines, which are planted 1200-2100 ft above sea level. Unique in their textural depth, complexity, and purity, the wines of Traerte are true to their terroir and some of the very best in Italy.
“Much like Roberto Conterno, Manni Nossing or Gunther Kershbaumer (the winermaker/owner of Kofererhof), Traerte’s Raffaele Troisi is one of those extremely talented individuals who can’t seem to make a bad wine. Look to Traerte for some of Campania’s best Fiano di Avellino wines (especially the cru Aipierti) and, more importantly, for both of its Coda di Volpe wines, the entry-level bottling and the cru Torama. Simply put, nobody makes a better Coda di Volpe wine in Italy. A white wine specialist, Troisi offers steely, minerally, precise interpretations of Fiano, Greco and Coda di Volpe. Another plus is that all of his wines age extremely well.
There is no better Coda di Volpe in Italy than [Traerte’s]; in fact, for my money, it’s one of Italy’s 25 greatest white wines.”