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Campania


The vineyards of the region dominated by the city of Naples are in many ways some of Italy's most exciting. Many of them are planted with vines thought to be direct descendants of those brought here by the ancient Greeks. The very name of Aglianico, a red grape of enormous character which is so late-ripening it cannot be grown economically further north, is a corruption of Elleniko, or Greek. And then among white grapes Greco’s origins are fairly obvious. Falanghina is thought by some to have been responsible for the brownish wines of long-aged Falernum, arguably the most famous wine in classical literature. Fiano, capable of making nutty white wines which can also be aged, was mentioned by Pliny. All this could be dusty archive stuff were it not for the fact that so many producers are doing their best to make fine modern wines from these ancient grapes, each of which is bursting with character.

The most famous wine based on stern and sturdy Aglianico is Taurasi made in hills directly inland from Naples where it may be picked as late as November. 

Fiano d'Avellino was originally made as a sweet wine and its only recently that its changed styles to a dry, very age worthy, white.  Fun fact- there are only 29 producers from Avellino D.O.C.G.. 

You must try Rocca del Principe.  An absolute gem.  Ercole, his brother and now his daughter run their entire production, specializing in some of the best Fiano we've seen lately.  

Map showing Tuscany within Italy