Fratelli Felix Campania 2022. New to orange? This is the ideal intro.

Vigneti Tardis Fratelli Felix Campania (IGP) 2022, 12.5% ABV

RRP: €19.95. Stockists:  64 Wine Dublin, Bradley’s of Cork, Greenman Dublin, Le Caveau Kilkenny

New to orange? This is the ideal intro.

You’ll note immediately that this white wine from the south of Italy has a slight orange tint. And it is indeed an “orange” wine, though the colour is not as deep as in many others of the type; the grapes were left to soak on their skins for just two days. Very Highly Recommended.

The blend is of Fiano (60%) and Falanghina, grown on clay and limestone soils. The two days with skins also give a slightly fuller feeling than a regular white. The grapes are harvested manually. No additives (bar a tiny amount of SO2 at bottling) used and it is neither filtered nor fined.

If you are beginning to try orange wines, then this perfectly balanced Italian,  is a good one to start with. The intense aromas show tropical fruit and citrus, and that tropical character continues on the palate.

It is a medium-bodied wine that boasts a rich texture, is bone dry, and has a good kick of juicy acidity. The white grapes here are indigenous to Southern Italy and organically grown, though the wine is not certified, so you won't see the Demeter sticker on the bottle.

The advice here is to avoid serving this wine cold from the fridge, as it really opens up, in terms of aroma and flavour, when left out of the fridge and served slightly cold.

Enhanced Aromas and Flavours

With its enhanced aromas and flavours, orange wine is a versatile option at the table. It complements many dishes, including roast chicken, Indian curry, tagines, trout with apricots, lamb chops, grilled octopus, and strong cheeses.

Fratelli Felix is a collaboration between Jack & Bruno (of Vigneti Tardis) and Eric Narioo of Les Caves de Pyrene & Vino di Anna. This project sources grapes from sustainable growers in Campania and aims to offer honest, excellent-value wines made in the Vigneti Tardis way. Vigneti Tardis itself is the result of a collaboration between Jack Lewens (former sommelier, now co-owner of Leroy Restaurant, Shoreditch) and his long-time friend Bruno de Conciliis of Viticoltori de Conciliis. 

• This post is part of a series on Italian wines made from native grapes and produced by usually small or medium-sized organic wineries. Taking some “guidance” here from the recently published VINO. They mightn’t always net the hat trick, but I hope to score two from the three each time. I have quite a few lined up, but I’m happy to consider any suggestions or help. #OrganicItaly
• See the expanding list of #OrganicItaly wines here