Campania wine region

thumb |Vines growing in Campania.

Campania is a wine region in south Italy, known for old traditions and many native grapes. The region has history and different soils, climates and people making wine with different tastes.

History

Wine making in Campania started before Romans, Etruscans and then Greeks helped with growing grapes. Greeks brought main grapes like Aglianico, Greco, Fiano, Falanghina, Biancolella, Piedirosso, Aglianico name maybe comes from Hellenic. In roman times wines like Falerno, Caleno, Faustiniano were famous and exported far. Middle Ages saw wine decline. 16th century people started again with Greco, Coda di Volpe and other grapes. In 19th century phylloxera damaged many vines and people emigrated. In 1980s new producers start again with old grapes and modern ways.

Geography and Climate

Campania has 24,000–30,000 ha of vineyards. 50–51% hills, 30–35% mountains, 14–15% flat land. Main provinces are Avellino, Benevento, Caserta, Naples, Salerno. Coast has mediterranean climate, mild dry and windy, good for white grapes. Inland is more continental, good for red grapes. Vesuvius and volcanic soil make minerals in grapes. Inland clay and limestone soil make wines different in taste and structure.

Grape Varieties

Campania has more than 100 native grapes, many rediscovered in recent years.

• Red: Aglianico, Piedirosso, Sciascinoso, Casavecchia, Pallagrello Nero, Sangiovese, Barbera. Aglianico in Irpinia is strong and tannic, ruby color, smells of spice and leather. Piedirosso is lighter with cherry notes. Sciascinoso and Casavecchia give color and some aroma.
• White: Fiano, Greco, Falanghina, Asprinio, Coda di Volpe, Pallagrello Bianco, Biancolella, Forastera. Fiano has body, fresh taste, nutty notes. Greco is citrusy and mineral. Falanghina smells fruity and flowery.

Some international grapes like Cabernet, Merlot exist but small role.

Wine Regions and Denominations

Campania has 4 DOCG wines, 15 DOC, 10 IGP. Wines show different soils, climates, people.

• Irpinia (Avellino): Taurasi DOCG, Greco di Tufo DOCG, Fiano di Avellino DOCG, Irpinia DOC. Taurasi is called Barolo of South, Greco and Fiano aromatic and mineral.
• Beneventano (Benevento): Sannio DOC and Aglianico del Taburno DOCG, strong reds from Aglianico.
• Casertano (Caserta): Falerno del Massico DOC, Asprinio di Aversa DOC (vines “maritate al pioppo”), Galluccio DOC, Casavecchia di Pontelatone DOC.
• Naples and islands: Campi Flegrei, Vesuvio DOC (Lacryma Christi), Ischia DOC, Capri DOC, volcanic Piedirosso and Falanghina.
• Coastal Salerno (Amalfi and Cilento): Costa d’Amalfi DOC, Cilento DOC, Tramonti DOC, rocky soils, strong mineral and aroma. Grapes Fenile, Ginestra, Ripolo, Pepella.

Wine Styles

• Red wines: Taurasi DOCG is main red, strong, long aging, flavors leather, tobacco, spice. Others are Sannio and Casertano reds, Piedirosso, Sciascinoso blends.
• White wines: Fiano di Avellino DOCG, Greco di Tufo DOCG, Falanghina are fresh, aromatic, mineral. Coast whites lighter, inland more structured.
• Sparkling and rose: Small amount, Asprinio and Piedirosso, traditional methods.

Campania wine is mainly native grapes, small family wineries, mix of old and new methods.