Coda di Volpe

What Is Coda di Volpe?

Coda di Volpe is a white grape of Campania, grown mainly on the slopes of Vesuvius and in the Sannio and Irpinia hills. It makes dry, medium-bodied whites with pear, citrus and almond notes, and it is one of the main grapes of Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio Bianco.

The name means "fox's tail" in Italian. It comes from the shape of the long, curved bunch, which looks like the tail of a fox. Coda di Volpe is an old Campanian variety. For a long time it was used mostly as a blending grape, to add body to wines made from Greco or Fiano. Since the 1990s more producers have bottled it on its own. On Vesuvius it was long confused with Caprettone, which DNA tests later showed to be a separate grape.

Where Coda di Volpe Grows

• Vesuvius: volcanic, sandy soils around the volcano, near Naples. The wines are often smoky and mineral.
• Sannio: the hills of the province of Benevento, where it is often grown with Falanghina.
• Irpinia: the inland hills around Avellino, close to the Greco and Fiano vineyards.
• Elsewhere in Campania: small plantings, often in blends.

Coda di Volpe and Italian Denominations

• Vesuvio DOC: Coda di Volpe is a main grape of Vesuvio Bianco and Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio Bianco, together with Verdeca and other local whites.
• Irpinia DOC: includes a varietal Irpinia Coda di Volpe.
• Sannio DOC: includes a varietal Sannio Coda di Volpe.
• Campania IGT: used for varietal wines and blends.

Flavor Profile and Tasting Notes

• Fruit: pear, yellow apple, lemon, peach and some tropical fruit.
• Other notes: almond, white flowers, herbs and, from Vesuvius, a smoky, mineral touch.
• Structure: medium to full body, moderate acidity, soft texture and a slightly bitter finish.

Most Coda di Volpe is made to drink young, within two or three years. It is softer and rounder than Greco or Falanghina. Wines from old vines or aged on the lees are fuller and can keep for a few more years.

Food Pairing

• Neapolitan dishes: pizza margherita and pasta with tomatoes and fresh mozzarella.
• Seafood: spaghetti with clams, fried fish and grilled squid.
• Vegetables: zucchini, peppers and vegetable frittata.
• Cheese: buffalo mozzarella and young pecorino.
• White meat: roast chicken and rabbit.

How to Choose and Where to Start

Start with a Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio Bianco or a Vesuvio Coda di Volpe, then try a varietal wine from Sannio or Irpinia to compare. Producers worth knowing include Villa Dora, Di Prisco, Vadiaperti (Traerte), La Guardiense, Ocone, Feudi di San Gregorio and Cantina Giardino.

Coda di Volpe grows next to Falanghina, Greco and Fiano, the best-known whites of Campania, and next to the red Piedirosso on Vesuvius. Read our best Campania wines, the guide to wines from volcanic soils, or browse the grape varieties index.