Two new wines have recently been presented by the Molisan winery Tenute Martarosa, and immediate thoughts come to mind.

Although I had the privilege of an early tasting at previous events such as Only Wine in April, the official launch took place at the end of June in the beautiful garden of the winery, which continues to make its mark with increasingly refined labels—such as the Tintilia rosé, a native black grape wine of great class, often awarded by the 100 Best Italian Rosé.

The first new release is the 2019 Fiano, a well-known grape variety widespread especially in the Southof Italy, though primarily associated with Campania. In texts and articles, we often read that Fiano di Avellino—one of Campania’s four DOCG wines—is considered the “best” version. But this made us wonder: what does “best” really mean? Pleasantness alone isn’t enough; there are many other equally interesting expressions. Think of the Fiano from Cilento—still in Campania—preferred by those who don’t want to wait and favor more Mediterranean tones over the vertical structure of the mountain-grown Irpinian Fiano (AV). Undoubtedly, though, the latter tends to have greater longevity. This is a key reason behind the choice made by the Travaglini brothers, who identified potential in a specific portion of their territory.

One of Fiano’s strengths is its versatility and ability to adapt to both terroir and interpretation. So it’s no surprise to find such diverse expressions—particularly rich ones like this: a golden, opulent Fiano aged in wood.

Then there’s the classic method sparkling wine made from white vinified Tintilia—a Brut Nature aged on the lees for 20 months, showing great elegance. My immediate question: why vinify it as a white? The answer lies in exploring the true nature of Tintilia, Molise’s signature black grape. Often considered a teinturier variety, Tintilia actually has the capacity to express finesse even in its paler forms—as the rosé mentioned above already hinted. This sparkling wine has a creamy mousse and delicate aromas, making for a refreshing and satisfying tasting experience.

Both new entries have been named after the family estate: Villa Cliternia.

Congratulations ti the brothers Travaglini in charge along with the winemaker Bandinelli, once again, well done!