Campania and its wines

The Campania, in southern Italy, is one of the most fascinating and historic wine regions in the country, with a tradition going back to the ancient Greeks and Romans. Thanks to the mineral-rich volcanic soils, the Mediterranean climate and the wide temperature swings, the region produces some of the best white and red wines in Italy, with particular attention to indigenous grape varieties.

The great protagonists of Campanian viticulture are Fiano di Avellino DOCG, Greco di Tufo DOCG and Taurasi DOCG, a powerful, long-lived red wine made from Aglianico, considered one of the best red grape varieties in Italy.

What is the Campania wine district?

Campania is a region with 4 DOCGs and over 15 DOCs, spread across hills, volcanoes and coasts that give the wines unique characteristics. The most important appellations include:

• Taurasi DOCG → The “Barolo del Sud”, a structured, tannic red based on Aglianico.
• Fiano di Avellino DOCG → An aromatic, elegant and long-lived white.
• Greco di Tufo DOCG → A mineral, savoury white with great freshness.
• Falerno del Massico DOC → One of the oldest wines in Italy, already prized by the Romans.
• Costa d’Amalfi DOC and Cilento DOC → White and red wines typical of the coastal areas.

The Great Wine Regions of Campania

1. Irpinia (Avellino, Benevento)

• Main grape varieties: Aglianico, Fiano, Greco.
• Style: Structured reds, fresh and long-lived whites.
• Famous appellations: Taurasi DOCG, Fiano di Avellino DOCG, Greco di Tufo DOCG.

2. Falerno and Caserta

• Main grape varieties: Aglianico, Piedirosso, Falanghina.
• Style: Elegant reds and savoury whites.
• Famous appellations: Falerno del Massico DOC, Aversa DOC.

3. The Amalfi Coast and Cilento

• Main grape varieties: Falanghina, Biancolella, Piedirosso.
• Style: Maritime, savoury whites, fresh, fruity reds.
• Famous appellations: Costa d’Amalfi DOC, Cilento DOC.

4. Vesuvius and Naples

• Main grape varieties: Coda di Volpe, Falanghina, Piedirosso.
• Style: Mineral wines with great savouriness.
• Famous appellations: Vesuvio DOC, Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio DOC.

Characteristics of Campania Wines

Colour

• Whites: Straw yellow with golden highlights, bright.
• Reds: Deep ruby red, with garnet nuances in the aged wines.

Aromas

• Fruity: Citrus, apple, peach in the whites; plum and cherry in the reds.
• Floral: White flowers in the Fiano; violet in the Taurasi.
• Spicy and Mineral: Notes of black pepper and tobacco in the reds, flint in the whites.

Palate

• Fresh and Savoury: In whites such as Fiano and Greco di Tufo.
• Structured and Tannic: In reds such as Taurasi and Falerno del Massico.
• Elegant and Long-lived: In the region's most important white and red wines.

Typical Grape Varieties of Campania

White Grape Varieties

• Fiano: Aromatic and mineral, perfect for laying down.
• Greco di Tufo: Savoury and fresh, with excellent acidity.
• Falanghina: Fruity and floral, perfect for drinking young.
• Coda di Volpe: Used in the wines of Vesuvius, soft and mineral.

Black Grape Varieties

• Aglianico: One of the best red grape varieties in Italy, powerful and long-lived.
• Piedirosso: Softer and fruitier, perfect for blends.
• Sciascinoso: A rare grape variety, with good acidity and freshness.

Why Choose a Wine from Campania?

A wine from the Campania is synonymous with history and tradition, ideal to accompany fish dishes, aged cheeses, red meat and specialities of Neapolitan cooking. From the fresh whites such as Greco and Fiano, to the structured reds such as Taurasi and Falerno, through to the volcanic wines of Vesuvius, this region offers wines of great character and typicity.