About Winery and Wines
In 1729 the poet Nicolò Giovo in the poem “A toast to Eudipio” wrote: “Here the first spiked sweet Pallagrello that ‘its branches drop the Monticello. Does not make me happy and glad the Clarotto and wine of Orvieto, nor the French Champagne or smoky Spanish wine, but only the beautiful seems to me: Mr. Pallagrello”. Pallagrello, or dialect Pallarello which means small and round (characteristic of the grapes) was known mainly at the Bourbon court. It was here where it was offered as a fine gift for guests and included in the menu for special occasions. During harvest every wine overflows with emotion: the goal is to have Cellars Rao to interpret and enhance the characteristics of an area, of a few hectares, for only one cluster of grapes.
Pallagrello is an indigenous grape species black and white in color grown in the Rao cellars in Campania Felix. They grow at the heart of Mount Matese and at the foot of Mont Alifano. There is a beautiful and unspoiled “Bosco d’Oro” on loamy sand soil, exposed entirely to the South. Nowadays, the vineyard also includes a variety of Aglianico, Fiano and Casvecchia, covering 5 hectares within 7 of the ancient Podere Bell’Angelo. The vineyard was renovated fifteen years ago by Francesco Rao, a doctor by profession and passionate for winegrowing. Francesco has managed to combine the characteristics and traditions of the time with the most modern technologies wine making.