2016 Podere Veneri Vecchio ‘Tempo Dopo Tempo’

Price: $22 Region: Beneventano Bianco < Campania < ItalyGrapes: Grieco, CerretoVineyard/Cellar Stats: Biodynamic farming, clay and volcanic soils, spontaneous fermentation with maceration on the skins for 8 days, aged in chestnut barrels for about 8 months. Unfined/unfiltered; 11%Winemaker: Raffaele Annichiarico   ‘Tempo dopo tempo’ translates to ‘time after time’ – and yes, we’re humming the Cyndi Lauper song as we write. The wine itself is also timeless, from a small estate up in the hills of Campania and a winemaker dedicated to bringing back grapes from the past. Raffaele Annichiarico worked as a microbiologist before becoming a winemaker and brings a worldly perspective to growing grapes that emphasizes genetic diversity, realizing that this is the only way for crops, and all life forms really, to survive. His tiny vineyards are biodynamically farmed and so he has no fear of adding no SO2, nor anything else in the winemaking process. Raffaele macerates the grapes for eight