Mastroberardino Winery #160
Eight Ways to Discover Irpinia: The Mastroberardino Experience
The estate’s winemaking tradition, rooted in a family history dating back to the 18th century and carried into the modern era through the pioneering initiatives of Angelo Mastroberardino in 1878, is presented to visitors through eight immersive experiential paths. Much like a photographer who shifts perspective to reveal new facets of a familiar subject, each experience offers a distinct interpretation of Irpinia’s oenological potential, shaped by the creative vision and insight of the winemaker.
Antonio Mastroberardino, affectionately known as a “grape archaeologist”, combined his family’s winemaking heritage with a profound study of ancient history, methods and archaeological principles. His most significant achievement was the revival of Campania’s autochthonous grape varieties – the legacy of the region – including Aglianico, Fiano and Greco, now among its leading cultivars. His son, Piero Mastroberardino, winemaker and lecturer at the Wine Academy, continued this mission.
Revival of Ancient Varieties
Since the 1990s, the Mastroberardino family has cultivated Irpinia and Campania’s indigenous vines with particular focus on varieties whose origins trace back to Greek colonisation and Roman times. These include Aglianico, Fiano, Greco, Falanghina, Piedirosso and Coda di Volpe. Even after the devastation of phylloxera, Antonio Mastroberardino travelled across regions to collect surviving vine material, safeguarding this heritage for future generations.
The Ancient Cellars
In the heart of Atripalda, for nearly three centuries and across ten generations, the family’s historic cellars have preserved memories, knowledge and emotion. Visiting these spaces is a journey through time, recounting the stories of men and women who brought prestige to Irpinia and carried its message across the world – like a castaway entrusting hope to a bottle.
Guests begin in the ageing cellar, where oak barrels patiently refine the wines of tomorrow. The next stop, the private family caveau, transports visitors a century back in time, offering encounters with the indomitable witnesses of past harvests – from the great Irpinian whites of the 1960s and ’70s to Taurasi vintages from the 1920s. The experience may be enriched with a visit to the extensive archival collection housed in the MIMA (Mastroberardino Corporate Museum, Atripalda) or by selecting one of the estate’s Wine Experience tastings.
Experiential Wine Journeys
The estate’s Wine Experience offers several thematic paths designed to explore the expressive breadth of Irpinia’s terroirs and varieties:
- Horizontal explorations across product lines, highlighting the character of different grape varieties (Cru Experience, Icon Experience).
- Vertical explorations of a single variety expressed through diverse microclimates (Fiano di Avellino Experience, Greco di Tufo Experience, Aglianico Experience, Taurasi Experience).
- Temporal journeys tracing the evolution of great wines over time (Red Emotions).
- Stylistic deep dives into the estate’s most exclusive expressions (Stilèma Experience).
The Wine Experience also includes guided visits to the Ancient Cellars, the family Caveau and the MAG (Mastroberardino Art Gallery) collection.
The Mastroberardino ecosystem
A visit to this estate is a captivating voyage that summons every sense, guiding you through the many hues and textures of the Mastroberardino ecosystem.
From Wine & Food Experiences to artistic and museum itineraries, from the spa to fitness among the vines, and on to the discovery of the ancient cellars, every Mastroberardino-crafted experience can be booked and purchased seamlessly through a single dedicated portal.
