CAMPANIA

Location

Naples is the regional capital of this intriguing part of Europe, full of contrasts and contradictions but with an important history that predates Rome. It is Italy's 9th biggest region but with just over 5 million has its second highest population. It was here, just north of Naples where the Romans found their favourite tipple in the form of Falernian about which the great poets wrote. It is probably THE region for quality south of Tuscany for both whites and reds.

Climate

Warm Mediterranean but in the mountains of Avellino, Tufo and Taurasi, nights can be very cool with variable thermal swings.

Topography

Dramatic countryside of a rugged coastline, volcanoes, dormant and extinct, and high snowy mountains further inland.

Soils

Mixed limestone, igneous, metamorphic. Basalt and tuffaceous

Production

1.845.000 HL

 
                                                                                                                                                                                              Abruzzo        Basilicata        Calabria        Campania        Emilia-Romagna        Friuli-VeneziaGiulia        Lazio        Liguria        Lombardia        Marche        Molise        Piemonte        Puglia        Sardegna        Sicilia        Toscana        Trentino-AltoAdige        Umbria        Valled'Aosta        Veneto                                     

Our producers

La Guardiense

Grapes

  • Description

    Almost certainly Greek in origin as are many varieties in Southern Italy and its etymology is said to be "hellenic" (or from Greece). This grape is considered to be one of the 3 noble red varieties in Italy (Nebbiolo and Sangiovese being the others) giving wines of structure, power and complexity with a unique black pepper and black fruit note. Its distinct acidity in Campania distuishes it from the softer Basilicata version and enables it to age. It has medium thick skin enabling it to withstand botrytis and hence ripen well into November, giving it great potential to make the most of night and day temperature differences and hence complexity of perfume and structure. Its high acid and tannin content make it suitable for ageing.

    Principle Wines

    Taurasi, Aglianico, Aglianico del Taburno

  • Description

    Mostly found north of Naples in the Aversa area where traditional training methods can still be found – vines climbing trees up to the height of 20m where a single plant can produce 200 kgs of fruit. Not surprisingly therefore, the Latin origin of this word Aper means tart or harsh and this white grape certainly has at best a very citrus lemon tartness. Used for sparking

    Principle Wines

    Aversa

  • Description

    AKA Bianca Tenera because of its thin skin, is a minor variety grown mainly on the coastal areas of Campania, north and south of Napoli, plus the islands. Apparently the same as the Corsican Petite Blanche.

    Principle Wines

    Campi Flegrei, Capri, Costa d'Amalfi, Ischia, Penisola Sorrentina

  • Description

    Said to be the Alopecis, identified by Pliny 2000 years ago. Present name due to the shape of the bunch whose curve resembles the tail of a fox. Of modest acidity and ripe, perfumed aromas. Found all over Campania but now concentrated around Vesuvious where it has a major role in the Lacryma Cristi White blend. Also used to soften white blends.

    Principle Wines

    Irpinia, Vesuvio

  • Description

    Of uncertain origin. Some say Greek, some link it to the famed Roman Falernian. Falanga means wooden stake. Falanghina, small wooden stake. Late ripener which requires well exposed, sunny slopes and not to excessive production to shine. When it does shine it is a grape of real interest deserving national and international attention with excellent aromatics, structure and phenolic content, underpinned by a crystalline acidity. It is native to Campania and is most produced in the Benevento area.

    Principle Wines

    Guardia Sanframondi, Guardiolo, Vesuvio, Taburno, Sannio

  • Description

    Originally from Campania, grape can now be found in many Southern Italian regions such as Sicily and Puglia, usually at much lower prices because of higher yields that these regions offer. Taking its name from a variety the Latins called Vitis Apiano because of its sweetness that attracts bees (api in Italian), it was already a favourite of medieval Southern Italian courts such as Federick II and Charles of Anjou. It is considered as the white quality grape in Southern Italy, producing wines of structure and alcohol with an attractive hazelnut and hay character. Its tendency to produce high levels of natural sugar has also given producers the ability to make decent spumante.

    Principle Wines

    Fiano d'Avellino, Fiano del Sannio

  • Description

    Although the name suggests in Italian, "the foreign one", this white grape is now native to Ischia (the small island off Napoli), probably introduced from Sardegna some time in the past. Most of this fruity white grape is consumed on the Island's many tourists in the summer.

    Principle Wines

    Ischia

  • Description

    This is grape is almost certainly of Greek origin (hence the name!) and is one of the quality grapes of Southern Italy being found in almost all the regions. It almost certainly the grape mentioned by Pliny as Aminea Gemella in his Naturalis Historia. Aminea because it belongs to a family of vines cultivated in the Aminea zone of "Falernus Ager" in Northern Campania. Gemella, because it sprouts double or twin bunches about 50% of the time. It excels on tufaceous, volcanic soils, where it is said to be the reddest of white wines due to its must taking on a pinkish hue.

    Principle Wines

    Greco di Tufo, Greco Sannio, Greco Guardiolo

  • Description

    Literally means red feet. Aka Palombina meaning dove's foot because of its red coloured, triple-branched stem. It may be identical to the Columbina referred to by pliny.

    Principle Wines

    Vesuvio, Taburno

  • Description

    Aka Oliveila. Quality red grape that is fairly widespread and used for blending. Tends to live in the shadows of Aglianico.

    Principle Wines

    Campi flegrei, Costa d'Amalfi, Penisola Sorrentina, Vesuvio, Sannio

Major Appellations DOCG/DOC

  • Description

    Another style of Aglianico from grapes grown at higher altitudes in the hills around Benevento. Winters are harsh and harvests are late giving rise to the complexities that this grape can offer.

    Principle Wines

    Aglianico

  • Description

    Avellino is a town in Campania located at the centre of one of the most important, in terms of quality, wine producing areas in Southern Italy where Fiano, Greco and Aglianico are produced. Although only 50 km East of Naples, its location is very different, nestled up in the hills of the southern Appennines where nights are very cool and harvests can be much later.

    Principle Wines

    Fiano

  • Description

    About 10 kms from Avellino is the town of Tufo, named after the igneous rock (of Volcanic origin and not limestone!). The grape is certainly of Greek origin (hence the name!) and is found in many ancient texts including Roman. It is one of the top quality white wines of Southern Italy. It gives a wine of more structure and texture (even some tannin) than its Campanian siblings.

    Principle Wines

    Greco

  • Description

    The name of this wine is taken from the name of the town nestled in on the side of a wide east to west valley from near Benevento. This is Falanghina country and production is on a grander scale than other more remote areas and thus prices are much more accessable than other Aglianicos and Falaghinas. The Bianco and Rosso are blends of the above grapes. While there are also varietal Aglianicos and Falaghinas.

    Principle Wines

    Aglianico, Sangiovese, Falanghina, Malvasia Bianca di Candia

  • Description

    This is the historical name and the catch all area which includes the major Campanian DOCGs of Tufo, Avellino and Taurasi, and stretches to the borders of Basilicata and Puglia. Producers have a little more flexibilty than the provisions of the DOCGs but nevertheless producing varietal wines such as: Greco, Fiano, Aglianico (Campo Taurasini), Falaghina, Coda di Volpe, Piedirosso, Sciasinoso.

    Principle Wines

    Greco, Fiano, Aglianico, Falaghina, Coda di Volpe, Piedirosso, Sciasinoso.

  • Description

    From Benevento stretching to the borders of Puglia and Molise, this is named after the proud pre-Roman inhabitants called the Samnites. It produces the Campanian classics such as: Greco, Fiano, Aglianico, Barbera, Falaghina, Coda di Volpe, Piedirosso, Sciascinoso.

    Principle Wines

    Greco, Fiano, Aglianico, Barbera, Falaghina, Coda di Volpe, Piedirosso, Sciascinoso.

  • Description

    Around Benevento this historic winegrowing area takes its name from Mount Taburno and produces the Campanian classics such as: Greco, Aglianico, Falaghina, Coda di Volpe, Piedirosso. Elevated altitudes, small yields and hand harvesting tends towards smaller volumes of hight quality fruit.

    Principle Wines

    Greco, Aglianico, Falaghina, Coda di Volpe, Piedirosso.

  • Description

    Taurasi is the name of the town east of Avellino, which gives its name to one of the more important red wines of Southern Italy that, in many ways has set the be benchmark for Aglianico. Its long maturing process (min 36 months but sometimes much more) and pronounced acidity make the wine apt for ageing.

    Principle Wines

    Aglianico

  • Description

    This iconic Volcano gives its name to the area that surrounds Naples (and the Volcano itself). It has one of the oldest winemaking traditions in Europe which predates both Romans and Greeks. White and Red versions of both Vesuvio and Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio which is a subzone of the area, are produced form the above grapes and are usually to be consumed fairly young.

    Principle Wines

    Greco, Aglianico, Falaghina, Coda di Volpe, Piedirosso, Verdeca

Sub Appellations DOCG/DOC

  • Principle Wines

    Asprinia

  • Principle Wines

    Falanghina, Piedirosso

  • Principle Wines

    Falanghina, Piedirosso

  • Principle Wines

    Barbera, Sangiovese, Trebbiano Toscano, Malvasia Bianca

  • Principle Wines

    Aglianico, Piedirosso, Primitivo, Barbera, Fiano, Trebbiamo Toscano, Malvasia Bianca

  • Principle Wines

    Piedirosso, Sciascinoso, Aglianico, Falanghina, Biancolella

  • Principle Wines

    Falanghina, Aglianico, Barbera, Primitivo

  • Principle Wines

    Falanghina, Aglianico

  • Principle Wines

    Falanghina, Malvasia Bianca di Candida, Aglianico, Sangiovese

  • Principle Wines

    Greco, Fiano, Aglianico

  • Principle Wines

    Forastera, Biancolella, Piedirosso, Guarnaccia

  • Principle Wines

    Falanghina, Biancolella, Greco Bianco Piedirosso, Sciascinoso, Aglianico

  • Principle Wines

    Aglianico, Barbera, Sciantoso, Piedirosso, Sangiovese, Fiano, Falanghina, Greco, Coda di Volpe, Moscato, Trebbiano Toscano

  • Principle Wines

    Aglianico, Piedirosso, Falanghina, Greco

  • Principle Wines

    Falanghina, Malvasia Bianca di Candida, Aglianico, Sangiovese (a multi DOC*)

  • Principle Wines

    Aglianico, Sangiovese, Piedirosso, Coda di Volpe, Fiano, Greco, Falaghina, Trebbiano Toscano

  • Principle Wines

    Coda di Volpe (Crapettone), Verdeca, Falaghina, Greco, Piedirosso (Palombina), Sciascinoso (Oliveila), Aglianico

  • Beneventano
    Campania
    Colli di Salerno
    Dugenta
    Epomeo
    Irpinia
    Paestum
    Pompeiano
    Roccamonfina
    Terre del Volturno