I had lunch with someone from Campania today and was happily reminded of this fantastic grape, Coda di Volpe. Coda di Volpe is a grape that hails from the Campania region. There are both white and red grapes with this name, although the red is much more rare. I have had the white version often but have never tried the red version of this grape variety. Apparently, according to sources, Pliny gave the grape vine its name. Some say it was due to the color of the grape, others due to the shape. What is pretty much agreed upon is that this grape was first noticed during the Roman era.

The grape itself, its “bianco” version, produces a light-bodied wine with nice fruit and floral aromas and flavors. It is seen in a number of Denominazione d’origine controllata (D.O.C.) wines such as those from the Campi Flegri DOC, Greco di Tufo DOC, Sannio DOC, Taburno DOC, and Vesuvio DOC. It prefers volcanic soils and is grown in the provinces of Benevento, Avellino and Caserta. With this freezing weather hitting New York, memories of a sailing trip around the isole flegree – Ischia, Capri and Procida. Amazing islands, scenery and hospitality.