Best Campania Wines

The Wines of Avellino

Three most important Campania wines are all come from the province of Avellino (also called Irpinia), east of Naples. They are the Red Taurasi and 2 fine DOC whites, Fiano di Avellino and Greco Di Tufo.

The main winery in Irpinia has always been Mastroberardino, but recently a new smaller producer has started challenging its monopoly: Feudi Di San Gregorio, who can rely on a great expert enologist such as Riccardo Cotarella. And with the splitting up of the Mastroberardino brothers, Walter and Paolo Mastroberardino took the best vineyards and created their own winery, Terredora Di Paolo.


Taurasi (touw RAH see)

This red wine became famous worldwide with Mastroberardino's 1968 Riserva, thanks to its noble grape variety, Aglianico. The Taurasi needs aging and reaches its best after 15/20 years. The vineyard area is situated at about 25 miles north-east of Avellino (and there are around 16 communities), the grapes must be at least 85% Aglianico.

Taurasi must age at least 3 years, while the Riserva at least 4 (18 months in wood). The main Taurasi wine is Mastroberardino's “Radici”, but also Feudi Di S. Gregorio and Terredora Taurasi are fine. Retail prices range from $32 to $40.


Fiano di Avellino

Undoubtedly the best white dry of Campania wines, and among the best of all Italy, with it's aromas of pears and toasted hazelnuts (another typical product of this area).

The Fiano reaches its best with 5/6 years of aging but it will be ok even up to 15 years. The DOC zone is the hills around Avellino and especially near Lapio (North-East of Avellino), this wine must contain at least 85% Fiano grapes. Retail prices are $18/24. The best Fiano wines are: Terre di Dora (Terredora), Vignadora and Radici (Mastroberardino), Pietracalda (Feudi di San Gregorio).


Greco di Tufo (GREH co dee TOO foh)

As it can be deducted by its name, this grape has Greek origins, in fact they introduced it here about 2000 years ago. Even if it can be grown in many parts of Italy, its DOC zone is in the area around Tufo (about 10 miles North of Avellino).

Tufo is also a type of calcareous rock and this tufaceous volcanic soil is ideal for this variety of grape, which is more prolific than the Fiano even if the Fiano has 3 times more vineyards. The Greco di Tufo is quite similar to the Fiano.

Greco has a fruity and crisper taste while Fiano wines are softer. The Greco needs less aging. You can start drinking it after 3 years, but it can age well up to 12 years.

Greco di Tufo must contain at least 85% Greco grapes and, of course the best Greco Di Tufo Wines are Mastroberardino, Terredora and Feudi di San Gregorio.


Campania wines of the coastal hills and Islands around Naples

In the past years, there hasn't been any real policy in making quality Campania wines in this area, even if the environmental conditions (volcanic ash and soil, perfect climate, etc.) are ideal for wine producing.

However, now many producers have opened their eyes and mind and are starting to follow the quality wine movement, despite Naples worldwide is associated with pizza, spaghetti, tomatoes, mozzarella etc.

7 are the DOC wines and 3 of these are historical:


Ischia (EES key ah)

The grapes on this isle were planted by the Greeks, nearly 2000 years ago. The island is small so there isn't much land for vineyards (mainly on terraces) but quality is high in order to become Italy's second DOC wine (in 1966).

The white wine is the best and the main local producer is Casa D'Ambra. Forastera and Biancolella are great Whites while Ischia Rosso and Pér e Palummo (or Piedirosso) are famous Reds. Piedirosso is also a varietal wine and a passito.


Capri (CAH pree)

Another fantastic Isle in front the “Penisola Sorrentina”, famous worldwide, like Ischia has limited vineyards but the natural environmental conditions favors the production of 2 fine wines: Capri Bianco and Capri Rosso.


Lacryma Christi Del Vesuvio (or Vesuvio)

These vineyards are on the slopes of this sleeping (hopefully for as long as possible) vulcano. Years ago quality wasn't high but when a “certain” Mastroberardino came along, putting in all his wine making experience, ability and knowledge standards started changing.

Vesuvio Campania wines are white(mainly grapes are Verdeca or Coda di Volpe), red and rosato(80% Piedirosso and Sciascinoso). All 3 Vesuvios can be spumante.

In 1990 another 4 DOC wine areas have been added:


Campi Flegrei (CAHM pee FLEH grae)

This area is an extinct vulcano in Pozzuoli (West of Naples) and it's quite promising for the future of Campania wines making. Campi Flegrei Bianco and Campi Flegrei Falanghina are the main Whites, while Campi Flegrei Rosso(dry) and Campi Flegrei Piedirosso (dry and passito).


Costa D'Amalfi (COHS tah dah MAHL fee)

Situated in the province of Salerno, at the moment is one of the best areas for wine making and especially in the sub-zones of Furore, Ravello and Tramonti. The main producer is Marisa Cuomo with the Red, White and Rosato varieties.


Penisola Sorrentina (peh NEE so lah sor ren TEE nah)

On the Southern side of the Bay of Naples and North of the Costiera Amalfitana. Here we can find DOC sub-zones such as Lettere and Gragnano for dry Reds and Sorrento for Red and Whites. Once Lettere and Gragnano also made important fizzy wines, but many vineyards went lost with Naples urban expansion. Penisola Sorrentina Bianco is mainly Falanghina and Biancolella (or Greco), while reds are predominantly Piedirosso, Sciascinoso, Aglianico.


Asprinio D'Aversa (ahs PREE nee oh dee ah VEHR sa)

This is a declining area North of Naples, near Caserta and it is famous for a dry White made from 85% Asprinio grapes, while with 100% Asprinio grapes we have a fantastic spumante.


Southern Campania Wines

Here we find ourselves in the province of Salerno, where the Greeks have left important remains. Towards the region of Basilicata, there are the Cilento Hills, ideal location for strong red grapes such as Aglianico, White Fiano and Moscato. Luigi Maffini is the producer of Paestum IGT varietal Fiano wines. The 2 main wine zones are:

Cilento (chee LEN toh)

4 types of wine (dry Red, dry Rosato, Bianco and Aglianico


Castel san Lorenzo (CAHS tel sahn lo REN zo)

A new DOC zone with 3 blended dry wines (Castel S. Lorenzo Rosso – Castel S. Lorenzo Bianco – Castel San Lorenzo Rosato) and 3 varietal wines (Barbera, Moscato Bianco, Moscato Spumante).


Campania wines from northern hills

Going in the Northern direction, in the province of Caserta, towards the Latium border with the Appennine Mountains dominating the scene, there are some historic Roman wine districts and also brand new DOC zones. The variegated climate (warm along the coast, cooler in the hilly and mountainous inland) influences wine making. The DOC Nothern Campania wines are 7:

Falerno Del Massico (fah LER no del MAH see co)

Whose vineyards are on the slopes of Mount Massico and the white wines were venerated since Roman times. There are 3 types of Falerno, a Rosso (mainly Aglianico grapes), a Bianco (Falanghina) and a Primitivo (a mix of Aglianico, Piedirosso, Barbera grapes). The leading producers are Villa Matilde e Fontana Galardi.


Galluccio (gahl LOO cho)

A new wine zone, near the Latium border. The vineyards are situated in an extinct volcanic area where rich mineral soil is perfect for wine making purposes. These wines are similar to Falerno but are slightly lighter and more aromatic. Gallucio wines can be Rosso and Rosato (mainly Aglianico grapes) and Bianco Falanghina.


Solopaca (so lo PAH ca)

Towards West we enter in the province of Benevento, where between 2 sets of mountains, we find the homonymous village. 6 are the wines DOC labelled, Rosso and Rosato (mainly Sangiovese and Aglianico grapes), Bianco (Trebbiano Toscano, Falanghina), 2 varietal wines and a spumante (60% Falanghina).


Taburno (tah BUR no)

Another mountainous area South of Solopaca (province of Benevento). Its vineyards produce varietal Aglianicos Rosso and Rosato, Falanghina Coda di Volpe and Greco Whites and a Red Piedirosso. Other great wines include a dry Bianco (Trebbiano Toscano and Falanghina), a Red (Sangiovese, Aglianico) and also a fine Spumante (Coda Di Volpe-Falanghina).


Sant' Agata dei Goti (sahnt AHG ah tah dae GO tee)

North of Benevento. Thanks to the Aglianco and Piedirosso red grapes we have fine wines such as a Bianco (made from using only the colorless juice and not the red skins), Rosso, Novello Rosato. Other 5 varietal wines are 2 dry Reds (Aglianico, Piedirosso), 2 dry Whites (Greco, Falanghina) and 1 sweet White (Falanghina passito. All the varietal wines are made from 90% of the named varieties.


Guardiolo (gwar dee OH lo)

The production area is the surroundings of Guardia Sanframmondi (North-West of Benevento) wines include Guardiolo Bianco ( mainly Malvasia Bianco di Candia and Falanghina), Rosso and Rosato (90% Sangiovese), Guardiolo Falanghina dry white (Malvasia Bianco) and also a dry Spumante.


Sannio (SAHN nee oh)

Another new general wine zone including all other wines of the province of Benevento which aren't in the above listed DOC zones.


The you can find another set of local Campania wines, named with their vineyard location. These wines are labelled IGT (Indicazione Geografica Territoriale: