Dodiciettari by Vigna dei Lupi

A Winery Small in Size and Big at Heart

Not long ago, I found myself was hunting for unique wines at one of my favorite hunting grounds, the internationally acclaimed wine expo, called Vinitaly. On this trip, one particular wine was on my radar, a little-known wine called Taurasi. This red wine, which is a favorite of mine, is made from Aglianico grapes. It is often called the Barolo of the south. In my opinion, Taurasi is more approachable and can’t be compared to anything else.

I first experienced Tausari on the Amalfi Coast (southeast Italy in the Campagnia region). Most of the presenters in the Campagnia pavilion at VinItaly were small, compared to the giant Piedmont and Tuscany pavilions I had just come from. Brushing aside the mega wineries, my sights were set on smaller winemakers with a heart for growing unique regional grapes, that aren’t as well known on the international scene. 

My buddy Marco Colombini was the first person I met that day. When I recently asked him to tell me about why he selected DOCG Imports as his first USA importer, he said, “You came to us for a simple tasting, you stayed for three hours and didn’t want to leave!” He’s so right. That was the day I discovered Dodiciettari wines and I knew when I started DOCG Imports, they would be a part of it. 

They had me taste all their wines and offered up regional delights of salami, sausage, cheese, bread and even sundried chilies. They hosted me as if we had known each other for years. That wonderful afternoon has remained in our hearts. Their passion for wine and hospitality, contributed to my decision to make Dodiciettari my supplier of great wines of Avellino (near Naples). With each passing year, the region has become more famous for their exceptional wines and love of life.