“Campania Felix”: this is how the Romans used to refer to this region, praising its extraordinary fertility, mild climate, and scenic beauty that refreshed the eyes and souls of wealthy aristocrats (and more than one emperor) who spent their holidays here, leaving their worries and troubles in Rome. “Felix” (happy) also because it was capable of producing great wines, some of which are mentioned in the major surviving Latin literary works. And this characteristic has come down to us: every year, Campania offers us a diverse and intriguing tasting array, composed of many indigenous grape varieties, some of which are finally being truly valued, numerous areas, and many territories, each quite different from the other. Above all, it's needless to hide, Irpinia stands out, especially thanks to its production of white wines.
The protagonists are Greco di Tufo and Fiano di Avellino, and it's the latter that we want to focus on with this release. Becoming a DOCG in 2003, the appellation, as evident to all, is capable of delivering some of the most multifaceted, profound, and long-lived white wines of the Boot (Italy). The production area includes 26 municipalities between the Valle del Sabato and the Valle del Calore. The grape variety, Fiano, is indeed an ancient grape, likely present in Campania as far back as Roman times, with its name officially documented for the first time in some sales documents dating back to the first half of the 13th century.
The Fiano di Avellino with the best quality-price ratio according to the Berebene 2024 guide
Returning to today, we can say that embarking on a journey to discover Fiano di Avellino is undoubtedly a very interesting experience, where the grape variety becomes a versatile material shaped by the diverse interpretations offered by the territory and the producers. We recommend a shortlist of the best ones tasted this year, which have received a score of at least 90/100 in the Gambero Rosso Berebene 2024 guide (in some cases, they have also received Tre Bicchieri or made it to the finals) and are available for purchase at a price below 20 euros.
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