AMHS VIRTUAL WINE-TASTING to Feature Owner of Campi Valerio Vineyard Live from Molise

By Nancy DeSanti, 1st Vice President — Programs

Regrettably, we cannot meet in person at Casa Italiana this year for our popular wine-tasting event. Instead, AMHS’s annual event will be a virtually guided wine lecture and tasting hosted by Veni Vini Amici, including an interview with Molise producer Antonio Valerio, owner of Campi Valerio in Monteroduni, who will be live-streamed from Italy! Our host, Stephen Yanchuk, has been conducting educational wine-themed lectures since 2018. Both Stephen and his partner Beth have received certificates in wine education and continue their education and studies of the vines. Since March 2020, they have held monthly streaming tasting lectures where the focus is on the soil, terrain, history, culture and even pop culture. Their passion for wine and desire to bring good vibes to the world helped them become a 2020 Wine Spectator Video competition finalist for their video (“A Tale of Three Wine Bottles”).

Meanwhile, in the region of Molise near Isernia, archaeological evidence discovered in 1978 shows us the first signs of humankind in Europe during the Paleolithic period 700,000 years ago. It is in this cradle of civilization that Antonio Valerio’s family has been making wine since 1836. Along with the 14 hectares of vineyards at Campi Valerio in Monteroduni, the family cultivates 30 hectares of olive groves, as well as raises 250 cattle and 2,000 sheep on the remaining 450 hectares. In all their farming activities, they pay the utmost attention to nature and its sustainability. (For related article on Monteroduni, see page 12 of this Notiziario). Antonio Valerio describes this land as “a place that must be cared for with heart and soul.” He has been leading a renaissance in wine from Molise. With 60% of the production being exported, his focus has been on quality and bringing an authentic return to native grape varietals and classic viticulture techniques. These are the specific wines we will feature,

all produced by Campi Valerio:

• 2019 Fannia Falanghina del Molise

• 2016 Calidio Rosso del Molise

• 2016 Sannazzaro del Molise Riserva

These wines are available at Calvert Woodley Liquors, 4339 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C., and curbside pickup service is available. Two of the wines suggested for the tasting (a white falanghina and the red Sannazzaro) are also carried by A. Litteri, 517 Morse St. NE, Washington, DC 20002. If you wish to order these wines, we suggest you do so early. So please join us on November 15, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. EST and let’s discover Molise through the stories of wine. Details on how to join the event, via Zoom, coming soon — keep an eye on your email, as well as the Society’s Facebook page and AMHS calendar of events.