2019 Nativ Blu Onice Irpinia Aglianico

Just one hour’s drive from the cultural epicenter (and the city where pizza was born) of Naples and the storied ruins of Pompeii, you'll find Nativ.

Nativ Winery, was founded in 2008 in the heart of Irpinia, Paternopoli, by the talented duo of Dr. Mario Ercolino, a world-famous winemaker, and Dr. Roberta Pirone, a food science expert.

For those who don’t know, Dr. Mario Ercolino is a titan in the Italian wine industry. If you've heard of the iconic Feudi di San Gregorio, a cult favorite among Italian wine lovers, it's thanks to Ercolino, who redefined Southern Italian wine and put that winery on the map. He was also at the helm of San Marzano producing some of the highest awarded wines from Puglia. Now, his focus is on his own brand Nativ from Irpinia, a region poised to rival the world's most celebrated winegrowing areas.

Just to put this into perspective, Irpinia is a land of rich, volcanic soils and stunning landscapes, perfect for growing outstanding wines. At Nativ, they focus on iconic varieties like Fiano di Avellino, Greco di Tufo, Falanghina, and the powerful Aglianico – a grape known for its bold flavors and incredible aging potential.

Nativ’s wines are made from native grapes (hence the name) that have defined the region for centuries, representing the true essence of “Made in Italy.”

The winery is located on the picturesque volcanic slopes of Taurasi, in Paternopoli, a region with a rich history dating back to the 4th and 3rd centuries B.C. According to Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Taurasi wines are “Structured, complex and boasting serious aging potential, Taurasi is southern Italy’s answer to Piedmont’s Barolo and Tuscany’s Brunello di Montalcino.”

Taurasi's wines are special. They come from ancient vines rooted in volcanic soils that originates from ancient eruptions of nearby volcanoes, including Mount Vesuvius. These eruptions deposited layers of ash, pumice, and basalt, creating a mineral-rich and well-drained soil that is perfect for cultivating the Aglianico grape. These unique soils and terroir combine to create some of the most interesting and delicious wines in the world. These are singular wines that reflect the incredible history of winemaking in the region, a tradition that predates the arrival of the Greeks in Italy in the 8th century BCE.

Aglianico, a staple grape in Taurasi, is known for its strength and ability to age beautifully. As Wine Spectator wisely notes, "It's not an easy grape, but all the most important wines come from grapes that are difficult to grow."

In one of Greg Martellotto’s incredible journeys to Italy, he discovered Nativ Winery. As one of only 415 "Italian Wine Ambassadors" in the world, Greg was so impressed by Nativ's exceptional wines that he decided to import them directly to Big Hammer Wines. Greg says, "These are not the rustic wines of old that require decades of aging.  One of the most successful qualities of the wines from Nativ is how generous they are. These are not shy wines. They are big, bold, and vibrant with bright fruit, a touch of oak, and immediately accessible." We’re proud to be the direct importers of this stunning gem, bringing you the very best of Irpinia!

Vanvitelli sourced the stunning onyx for the Royal Palace of Caserta's alabasters from the quarry between Gesualdo and Paternopoli. This stone shines with a unique yellow-gold color and striking blue streaks that shift from cobalt to electric. Our Blu Onice wine is crafted from grapes grown near this very quarry.

2019 was a great vintage for this region. Vinous Media blessed this year with a 94pt review and said, "The 2019s dazzle with their vivid fruits, crystalline acids and balanced structures. The later-ripening red varieties fared well due to the extended harvest, producing wines of complexity, elegance and the balance to mature for decades."