December 3, 2025 (Quarto, Naples) – After twelve months of underwater aging in the waters off Castel dell’Ovo, Carputo Winery presents Ammore and Voce ‘e Notte, the new labels born from a research project that combines territory, science, and experimentation. The approach enhances the identity of the Campi Flegrei, a volcanic area unique for its soils, microclimate, and biodiversity—elements that interact with underwater aging to shape the wines’ profiles.
The Metodo Classico Falanghina Voce ‘e Notte comes from a 2021 base wine aged four months on fine lees, with secondary fermentation in January and disgorgement in September 2024. As highlighted by Carputo’s winemaker, Antonio Pesce, underwater maturation has a measurable impact on the wine’s evolution, altering both the pace and intensity of its development. According to Tommaso Luongo, President of AIS Campania, a comparison between the traditional version and the sea-aged one reveals “aesthetic similarities but subtle perceptive differences, with a calmer perlage and greater mineral finesse” in the submerged sample. A view shared by AIS Napoli delegate Gabriele Pollio, who notes that “the real difference lies in how carbon dioxide integrates during underwater aging, giving a more homogeneous sensation.”
Ammore, the Riserva Red, is a blend of Aglianico (40%) and Piedirosso (“Per e Palumm” – 60%), with fermentation lasting about twenty-five days and aging in five-hectoliter barrels before bottling in May 2024. Comparing traditional and underwater aging, AIS Campania president Tommaso Luongo observes that “in the classic sample, the note of noble wood is more evident, while in the sea-aged version this sensation is more subdued, allowing greater overall harmony to emerge.” The wine’s structure therefore evolves differently: the traditionally aged version shows a fleshier texture and hints of dried fruit, while the underwater-aged counterpart offers a cleaner fruit profile and livelier, more drying tannins. As winemaker Antonio Pesce points out, this distinction stems from the different behavior of oxygen during aging: “In red wines, the amount of active oxygen continues to shape the taste profile, making the influence of the marine environment even more evident than in sparkling wines.”
The underwater habitat where the wines rested plays a key role, as noted by Domenico Fulgione, professor at the Department of Biology of the University of Naples ‘Federico II’: “Stable pressure equal to about five atmospheres, constant temperature around twelve degrees, and an ecosystem of micro and macro organisms make this special cellar a ‘living’ environment. This is visible in the species that naturally colonize the bottles, giving them a unique appearance. How much this environment influences aging is still being studied, but it represents a fascinating and ever-evolving field of research.”
The project was developed in collaboration with Megaride Cantine Sommerse, a pioneering company in underwater aging. “Our goal is to combine territorial enhancement, scientific research, and new technologies,” explains Pasquale Spinoza, “also thanks to innovative systems such as the NFC chip installed on each bottle to monitor parameters during underwater immersion.”
And this journey is far from over, as confirmed by Valentina Carputo: “It is our family’s intention to continue along this path with a label dedicated exclusively to underwater aging.” Meanwhile, Francesco Carputo, founder of the winery, recalls the winery’s thirty-year history and its deep ties to the Phlegraean territory, emphasizing how “this project opens up new avenues for research and for dialogue between wine, the sea, and the community.”
Finally, the launch of these two new labels also reflects a choice that goes beyond wine itself: Carputo Vini has decided to link the debut of its new sea wines to a gesture of social responsibility, supporting cancer research through a donation to the AIRC Foundation. Roberta Buccino Grimaldi, President of the AIRC Campania Committee, highlighted how “the strength of synergy between companies and scientific research stems from a shared bond with the territory and the desire to transform innovation into concrete action.”
