![]() ![]() The wines seem to have less acidity and to be more textured than the other Campanian whites. Again this was used by the ancient Romans to produce the famous Falernian.Ĭoda di Volpe was apparently even named by Pliny the Elder, because the bunches are thought to resemble a fox’s tail. It is capable of being much softer and fruitier than the others and can easily be enjoyed without food. ![]() These were the most sought after wines in the middle ages and were known as Romneys by the English wine trade.įalanghina, much as I love Fiano and Greco, I reckon Falanghina is Campania’s calling card for white wines. Most books say it was brought to Italy by the Ancient Greeks, but Ferrante di Somma di Circello, whose Cantine di Marzo produces fine Greco di Tufo, told me that it was called Greco because it was the best grape to make Greek style wine, by which people used to mean sweet wine from dried grapes. ![]() The jury is out about the origins of the name though. Greco is a fascinating grape, capable of making some great dry whites, the best are traditionally made in the area around the town of Tufo and are very mineral and fine. Of all Campania’s whites I find the best Fiano to be the most balanced in terms of fruit and acidity. Back then the grape was known as Vitis Apiana beacuse it apparently attracted bees ( apis). It is often blended with Aglianico to make the wine fresher, especially in Fallerno del Massico and Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio.įiano is also an ancient variety that is believed to have been used to make the famous Apianum wine in Roman times. This grape also has high acid, but is lighter in tannin, so produces quite soft wines. In fact, in the local dialect it is called Palombina or Per’e Palummo which means ‘little dove’ and ‘dove’s foot’ because the stems are made up of 3 stalks that make it resemble a bird’s foot. Piedirosso, was apparently mentioned by Pliny the Elder and its name translates as ‘red foot’ because the stems are red in colour. Luckily many winemakers increasingly seem to know how to tame those hard tannins. Aglianico is traditionally full-bodied, with high acidity – perfect with food – and high tannin that can seem a little rustic in the wrong hands. Either way we know it is very old and was used to make Falernian which was the most highly rated wine of Ancient Rome, the modern Falerno del Massico is made in the same area. Naples fishing harbour with Capri in the distance.Īncient Grapes Any search for new flavours and excitement should take in Campania as it is home to such fabulous grape varieties.Īglianico is the region’s mainstay black grape and its name is either a corruption of ellenico or Helleni that betray Ancient Greek origins, or Apulianicum, the Latin term for southern Italy. Man of course can make choices and adjustments, so there can be some differing styles and emphasis in the wines. These grape varieties are the driving force of Campania, they define the types of wine the region can make, while the climate and soils reinforce those definitions. Pretty much everything in Campania is made from local indigenous grapes, some of which are very old indeed, with histories that reach back into ancient times. They are of course labelled by place name as is the custom in Europe, but many Italian wine names include the name of the grape variety too, as is often the case here. At first glance the wines here seem very traditional and almost the antithesis of the soft, overtly fruity new world wines that dominate the wine selections in supermarkets around the world. ![]() However the less well known inland areas are also extremely interesting and whilst they are a little off the tourist trail, they do produce some of the region’s – and Italy’s – most exciting wines. Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast and the islands of Capri and Ischia all offer rewarding experiences for the traveller, as do the ancient wonders of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Naples is of course at its heart, but there is so much more here too. It last erupted seriously in 1944.Ĭampania is a fascinating region, very beautiful, amazingly varied, steeped in history and full of wonderful things to see. The view from my Naples hotel balcony, Mount Vesuvius is pretty dominating and dramatic and could erupt again any time. ![]()
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