Catalanesca del Monte Somma

The Protected Geographical Indication "Catalanesca del Monte Somma" or "Somma" includes two types of wine: white and passito.

Grapes

The "Catalanesca del Monte Somma" IGT wines must be made from at least 85% of the grapes grown in vineyards with white Catalanesca vines. The remaining 15% can be obtained from other vines suitable for the province of Naples.

Physicochemical and Organoleptic properties

The white "Catalanesca del Monte Somma" IGT wines have a straw yellow colour, with an intense, floral, fruity aroma, combined with a dry, characteristic flavour. The passito version, on the other hand, is characterised by a more or less intense golden yellow colour, an intense bouquet and a sweet, aromatic, characteristic taste. The minimum total alcoholic strength by volume is 12.00% vol. for the white wine, 16.00% - 17.00% potential, of which 13.50% - 14.00% for the passito wine.

Grape production area

The production area includes the entire administrative territories of the municipalities of San Sebastiano al Vesuvio, Massa di Somma, Cercola, Pollena Trocchia, Sant'Anastasia, Somma Vesuviana, Ottaviano, San Giuseppe Vesuviano, Terzigno, all in the province of Naples.

Specificity and historical notes

The variety always known as "Catalanesca", Catalana or Uva Catalana, in the Vesuvian area, seems to date back to 1500. It is an exclusively Campania grape variety, precisely on the north-western side of Monte Somma, in the municipalities around the volcanic complex Somma-Vesuvio. The conformation of the production area and the prevalent exposure of the vineyards, located in areas particularly suited to the cultivation of the vine, determine an environment adequately ventilated, bright, favorable to all the vegetative-productive functions of the plant.