Campania

Campania, an Italian wine region located in the south of the country, is the home of Naples. Campania is known primarily for producing youthful, fruit-forward white wines made from Fiano and Greco as well as red wines made from Aglianico, a grape introduced by the ancient Greeks.

Campania is one of the very oldest Italian wine regions, with its history dating all the back to the 12th century BC. Throughout Campania, there are influences and traditions dating back to the Greek, Roman and Byzantine empires. The Romans named the land “Campania Felix,” or “happy countryside.” Given its ancient history, it’s perhaps no surprise that Campania is the home of one of the most ancient wines of Italy: Falerno.

Of all the red grape varietals found in Campania, the most important is Aglianico. This is the source for the region’s two most famous red wines: Taurasi and Aglianico del Taburno. In terms of white grape varietals, the most famous are Fiano (which dates back nearly 2000 years) and Greco. These are used to produce the wines Fiano de Avellino and Greco di Tufo. Despite the ancient history of wines in Campania, the white wines are generally regarded today as being very youthful and aromatic.

Geographically, Campania is part of the “boot of Italy” (you can imagine it as being the “shin” of the leg). Given the proximity of Naples, Campania has always been a gastronomic, architectural, and artistic hub within Italy. It is also located within the shadow of Vesuvius, which accounts for the volcanic soils and the architectural ruins of Pompeii.

The region is known for its dry hot summers, mild winters and relatively long growing seasons. The heat is moderated by coastal Mediterranean breezes.