Biferno is situated in the small wine region of Molise, in the southern part of central Italy. It was one of the first areas to be awarded a DOC classification, at the same time as its neighbor Pentro di Isernia – this helped Molise gain independence from Abruzzo in 1983. Named after the region’s largest river, the wine-production zone encompasses the area along the coast and a little inland around the province of Campobasso. Strict rules regulate the altitudes at which the vines can be grown, which is no more than 1968ft (600m) above sea level for the bianco and a maximum of 1640ft (500m) for the rosso and rosato.
The leading grape of the white wines is Trebbiano Toscano (65–70%) with small portions of Bombino (25–30%) and Malvasia (5–10%). The reds and roses are dominated by Montepulciano, which makes up 60–70% of the wine, the remainder comprising Aglianico (15–20%) and a little of the white Trebbiano Toscano. The riserva designation can be added to the label if the wines reach a potential alcohol level of 13%.
Although the wines of Biferno are similar to those from its counterpart Pentro di Isernia, they differ a little by displaying less acidity and more body, owing to the zone’s terroir: mountains give way to high plains that slope down towards the Adriatic Sea.
