The Art and Science of White Wine Longevity

The Campania Section of Assoenologi is promoting an important day of in-depth study dedicated to one of the most fascinating and complex themes of contemporary oenology: the ability of white wines to evolve over time. The technical focus, titled ‘Time as an Ally: The Art and Science of Longevity in White Wines,’ will be held on Wednesday, May 13, starting at 9:00 a.m., at the Enological School of Avellino. The initiative brings together academics, technicians, and industry experts to analyze, with a scientific and operational approach, the factors that determine the longevity of white wines: from pre-fermentation practices to chemical and aromatic foundations, to the role of terroir and climatic variables.
The event will open with institutional greetings from Pietro Caterini, principal of the De Sanctis Agricultural Institute, together with Roberto Di Meo, president of the Campania Section of Assoenologi, and Riccardo Cotarella, national president of Assoenologi. The first session, starting at 9:30 a.m., will be dedicated to technical presentations. Topics covered will include: pre-fermentation aspects in the production of long-lived wines, the chemical basis of aromatic stability, the role of thiolic compounds in the origin of citrus and tropical notes, the sensory vocabulary of Italian white wines, and the impact of climate variability on grape ripening. There will also be an international perspective with the Volta project, dedicated to understanding the longevity of Burgundy whites. This will be followed by a moment of discussion and exchange between speakers and participants.
In the afternoon, starting at 2:30 p.m., the second session will be dedicated to a guided tasting of nine white wines from various Italian regions, selected for their ability to evolve positively over time. The tasting will be led by Gabriele Gorelli, Master of Wine, and will offer a sensory journey through denominations and grape varieties suited to aging.
Among the wines tasted will be labels from leading wineries, representing iconic territories and different interpretations of white wine longevity, from Friuli Venezia Giulia to Campania, passing through Piedmont, Umbria, Marche, Sicily, Alto Adige, and Veneto.
The event stands out as a high-level technical and cultural moment aimed at oenologists, agronomists, producers, and industry professionals, with the goal of deepening knowledge and stimulating new perspectives on a theme that is increasingly central to the Italian wine scene.