Campania wine

History

Campania's grapes have long histories. Fiano is believed to be the grape behind the Roman wine Apianum, named after the bees (apis) drawn to its sweet pulp, and labels may still use that name. Some scholars link Aglianico to Falernian, the most praised wine of ancient Rome, a name echoed by today's Falerno del Massico. The long-held idea that Aglianico came from Greece is not supported by DNA analysis. In the 19th and 20th centuries low-yielding Fiano almost disappeared, until producers such as Mastroberardino led its revival. Taurasi became a DOC in 1970 and a DOCG in 1993, and Fiano di Avellino followed as a DOCG in 2003.

Terroir and appellations

Campania has 4 DOCGs and 15 DOCs. Three of the DOCGs are in the inland province of Avellino, an area also known as Irpinia: Taurasi, Fiano di Avellino and Greco di Tufo. Taurasi vineyards sit at roughly 400 to 500 m on volcanic soils, conditions that suit late-ripening Aglianico. The fourth DOCG, Aglianico del Taburno, lies in Benevento province. Near Naples, the slopes of Mount Vesuvius give Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio, and in Caserta province Falerno del Massico revives the Falernian name. In 2022 the region made almost 1.5 million hl of wine, mostly table wine, with only 19% at DOP level.

Grapes and wine styles

Aglianico accounts for 34% of Campania's vineyards. It buds early but ripens very late, sometimes into November, and gives full-bodied reds with firm tannins and high acidity that need time in bottle. Taurasi is based on Aglianico, with up to 15% of other grapes, and must age at least three years including one in wood (four years for Riserva). The leading whites are Fiano, Greco and Falanghina. On Vesuvius the local Piedirosso and Coda di Volpe make Lacryma Christi in red and white versions.

Campania wine: questions and answers

Other wine regions of Italy

• Piedmont
• Tuscany
• Veneto
• Sicily
• Lombardy
• Trentino-Alto Adige
• Friuli-Venezia Giulia