Biferno
BIFERNO (DOC)
Biferno is the main river, flowing through the region of Molise and it owes its name to the most outstanding wine of this region, made in the province of Campobasso.
River, known in antiquity as Tifernus, in the Middle Ages it was renamed Biferno. However, some historians believe, that the name Biferno is due to the fact, that the current of the river arises from the merger of two separate streams, flowing through the Boiano district. legend has it, that the first Samnites came to these areas, following the sacred bull (bue) and settled near the sources of the river in Boiano, which was to take its name from a commonly worshiped animal.
Campobasso lies between the basins of the Biferno and Fortore rivers in height 700 m a.s..m. The city has a surprising appearance, because its focal point is the Lombard castle of Monforte, perched on a hill, on the slopes of which the old part of the city stretches. The medieval heart of Campobasso is a maze of narrow streets – it is here that the Festival of Mysteries takes place during the Feast of Corpus Christi – a ritual dating back to the Middle Ages, which is to act out scenes described in the holy books.
The Biferno River runs through much of the Molise region, creating beautiful landscapes – Lake Guardialfiera, among others. The fields in the southern part of the region are mainly wheat and grapevines grown. Vineyards, in which the grapevine used in the production of Biferno Bianco wines is grown, Rosso and Rosato are located in the area adjacent to the Campobasso District, at a strictly defined height. In the case of white wine, the vine cannot grow in height, exceeding 600 meters above sea level, while for red and rosé wines, the cultivation height was set at 500 m a.s..m. Biferno Rosso is made primarily of the Montepulciano variety, which was brought to Abruzzo in the early 19th century. The Trebbiano Toscano strain is mainly used for the production of Biferno Bianco, while Biferno Rosato is made of the same variety as Biferno Rosso, we are dealing here with vinification without skins.