FATTORE UMANO

LAZIO

In early 2025 our dear friend Gennaro Reale released his first vintage of his new project: Fattore Umano. We were thrilled to be his first customer in the world and thrilled to welcome this project. This project is the culmination of the countless kilometers and harvests Gennaro has logged in his many years working as an enologist for so many incredible wineries in the Campania region. That is still his day job, to be clear, but Fattore Umano is a very fun (and welcome) side hustle.

Gennaro has been a friend essentially since I started Mucci Imports and he has been my guide to Campania since we met years ago at Le Vigne di Raito along the Amalfi coast. Since that day I’ve sat passenger for many of those countless kilometers he logs as he’s introduced me to producers that would have been incredibly challenging to find otherwise.

Gennaro’s project is called Fattore Umano, or the “human factor” which he argues plays a vital role in winemaking. After all, he is an enologist who is as good as his word, as good as the advice that he gives to the wineries he consults with. Gennaro states that a wine is a product of man’s ability to interpret a combination of factors that include: the vintage, the varietal, the soil, and the climate. And, interpreting the “triangle” that is soil-climate-variety is what will yield a quality wine.

It’s within this ethos and from this incredible work experience that Fattore Umano was born. Hyperbole is not really my thing but I’ve stated it on other pages here on this site: Gennaro Reale is easily one of the most talented enologists in Southern Italy so it’s easy to see what the potential for this project could be.

Gennaro lives in Lazio, very close to the border with Campania. Fattore Umano takes fruit from both regions. Currently the wines are produced at the winery Fra i Monti (where Gennaro is the enologist) in Lazio. He has some Pinot Noir vines in Terelle (Frosinone) right down the street from Fra i Monti. This is a wild, stunning part of Lazio essentially in the apennines so this is fruit at substantial elevation and a microclimate that yields fruit with grace and acidity, perfect for sparkling wine.

His other vineyard planted to Fiano and Piedirosso is in Campania near the Roccamonfina. This is an area that I am so extremely fond of from many points of view and I owe it all to Gennaro for introducing me to this incredible part of Italy. He lives on the Lazio side of the Roccamonfina park whereas his vineyard is located to the east. It’s a green, wild and pristine part of Campania that is influenced by the Matese mountains to the northeast.

It’s very fun to see Gennaro make his own wines. He has an incredible understanding of Fiano and Piedirosso in working with them from all corners of the region.

Gennaro’s initial production was just around 5,000 bottles.

isolated wine bottle photo of chiudi gli occhi

Chiudi Gli Occhi

Varietal : 100% Fiano

NOTES

This is mountain Fiano. A wine with texture that still embraces the freshness and vibrance this grape possesses. It’s a wine you want to drink with food. Chiudi gli occhi means ‘close your eyes’ in Italian.

Fiano with texture is a nice pairing for spicy food, just like Riesling would be. Certainly there is a bit of tannic structure that could pass with extreme spice but I think overall this wine is complementary. At the same time I love this wine wine spring pastas or risottos (asparagus, peas, radicchio etc).

De-stemming and skin contact for two days in stainless steel tanks. Alcoholic fermentation with indigenous yeasts. Aging in fiberglass for 10 month and also ageing in the bottle for 12 month. No clarification, no stabilization, no filtering.

isolated wine bottle photo of trattiene il respiro

Trattiene il Respiro

Varietal : 100% Piedirosso

NOTES

This is a pretty magical expression of Piedirosso that dazzles in its true pleasure to drink. It’s one of these red wines that is full of layers and complexity that can only come from the hands of artisan winemakers like Gennaro. Trattiene il respiro means ‘hold your breath’.

Piedirosso is a pizza wine in Caserta. This wine has a different dimension and it begs for complex food that is craving tons of tannin. Lamb and veal could work here.

De-stemming and maceration for two weeks in stainless steel tanks. Alcoholic fermentation with indigenous yeasts. Aging in ceramic amphorae for 10 months and aging in the bottle for 12 month. No clarification, no stabilization, no filtering.

isolated wine bottle photo of Metodo Classico Bianco

Metodo Classico Bianco

Varietal : 100% Fiano

NOTES

Champagne method Fiano wines are a bit of a specialty of Gennaro’s and something we at Mucci Imports tend to obsess over. This wine is no different. I see a lot of similarities in these bubbles with the Chiudi Gli Occhi. It’s complex Fiano that will offer texture but yet it is clean, refreshing and fun!

I think this is a great wine for aperitivo and snacks. I certainly would love it with a nice plate of pasta with clams too!

Pressing the whole grapes and alcoholic fermentation with indigenous yeasts in stainless-steel tank. Aging in ceramic amphorae for 10 months. Secondary fermentation occurs in the bottle according to the classic method. No clarification, no stabilization, no filtering, only the degorgement.

isolated wine bottle photo of Metodo Classico Rosato

Metodo Classico Rosso

Varietal : 70% Pinot Noir, 30% Piedirosso

NOTES

What makes Fattore Umano’s sparkling wines fun are their fruit forward approach. These wines have tremendous balance, really well integrated bubbles and most of all a simplicity to them that is truly delightful.

We love the simplicity of this wine. Drink it in the sun, at the beach or with a great spread of snacks.

Pressing the whole grapes and alcoholic fermentation with indigenous yeasts in stainless-steel tank. Aging in ceramic amphorae for 10 months. Secondary fermentation occurs in the bottle according to the classic method. No clarification, no stabilization, no filtering, only the degorgement.

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