Montevetrano di Silvia Imparato (Campania, Italy)

Set among the hills of San Cipriano Picentino, just south of Salerno and protected by the Monti Picentini, Montevetrano is one of Italy's original modern cult wines. Created by Silvia Imparato, a professional photographer and passionate wine enthusiast, together with her friend and legendary winemaker Riccardo Cotarella, the estate transformed a small experimental vineyard into a wine that became an international icon. Today, Montevetrano remains a remarkably small estate, with only around five hectares planted to vines, surrounded by woodland, olive and fruit trees. 

The story began in the mid-1980s, when Silvia and a group of friends decided to experiment with making wine at her family's property. Cotarella encouraged her to plant Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot alongside the local Aglianico, creating a Bordeaux-inspired blend with a distinctly Campanian identity. The first experimental wines were produced in the early 1990s, and the first commercial vintage of Montevetrano followed in 1993. The wine took its name from the nearby medieval castle of Montevetrano. 

What happened next became wine legend. The early vintages attracted the attention of Robert Parker, with the 1993 receiving 98 points and helping establish Montevetrano as the “Sassicaia of the South.” The comparison was not merely a marketing phrase: Montevetrano became one of the first southern Italian wines to demonstrate that Campania could produce a world-class, internationally styled red with genuine ageing potential.

The blend has evolved over the years, but the fundamental concept remains Cabernet Sauvignon, Aglianico and Merlot. The vineyards benefit from the proximity of the Mediterranean and the protection of the Picentini mountains, while the combination of clay and mineral-rich soils gives the wine both concentration and freshness. In the glass, Montevetrano is deeply coloured and powerful, with blackberry, blackcurrant and dark cherry, complemented by violet, liquorice, myrtle, tobacco, chocolate and Mediterranean herbs. Despite its richness, the best vintages develop remarkable elegance with age. 

The estate's reputation has remained remarkably consistent. Gambero Rosso has repeatedly awarded Montevetrano its highest three-glass rating, and the wine has accumulated a remarkable series of international scores. The 2015 vintage received 98 points from James Suckling and 98 from Cernilli, while the 2016 achieved 98 from James Suckling and 95 from The Wine Advocate. More recently, the 2021 30th-anniversary vintage received 96 points from James Suckling, 95 from Vinous, 94 from The Wine Advocate and 93 from Wine Spectator. The 2022 followed with 94 points from James Suckling and 92 from Wine Spectator, confirming the continuing quality of the estate. 

For Wine Provision Shop, Montevetrano has a particularly memorable Singapore connection. In 2019, Montevetrano was selected for the Singapore Tatler Ball, where the 2009 vintage was served. Silvia Imparato personally wrote a note for the occasion, adding a wonderfully personal touch to an event that brought one of Italy's most celebrated cult wines directly to Singapore.

Today, Silvia remains at the heart of Montevetrano, while Riccardo Cotarella continues his long-standing involvement with the estate. Alongside the flagship Montevetrano, the winery also produces Core, based on Aglianico, as well as Core Bianco. 

Montevetrano remains one of Italy's great modern wines — a remarkable story of friendship, experimentation and conviction that helped demonstrate that Campania could stand alongside the world's most prestigious wine regions. For Wine Provision Shop, it is particularly satisfying to represent a wine whose extraordinary reputation was established decades ago and which continues to deliver the same combination of power, elegance, individuality and longevity today.