Campania is a wine region in south Italy, known for old traditions and many native grapes.[1] The region has history and different soils, climates and people making wine with different tastes.[1]
Wine making in Campania started before Romans, Etruscans and then Greeks helped with growing grapes.[2] Greeks brought main grapes like Aglianico, Greco, Fiano, Falanghina, Biancolella, Piedirosso, Aglianico name maybe comes from Hellenic.[1] In roman times wines like Falerno, Caleno, Faustiniano were famous and exported far.[2] Middle Ages saw wine decline. 16th century people started again with Greco, Coda di Volpe and other grapes.[3] In 19th century phylloxera damaged many vines and people emigrated. In 1980s new producers start again with old grapes and modern ways.[1]
Geography and Climate
Campania has 24,000–30,000 ha of vineyards. 50–51% hills, 30–35% mountains, 14–15% flat land.[1] Main provinces are Avellino, Benevento, Caserta, Naples, Salerno.[3] Coast has mediterranean climate, mild dry and windy, good for white grapes. Inland is more continental, good for red grapes.[3] Vesuvius and volcanic soil make minerals in grapes.[3] Inland clay and limestone soil make wines different in taste and structure.[3]
Grape Varieties
Campania has more than 100 native grapes, many rediscovered in recent years.[1]
Red: Aglianico, Piedirosso, Sciascinoso, Casavecchia, Pallagrello Nero, Sangiovese, Barbera.[2] Aglianico in Irpinia is strong and tannic, ruby color, smells of spice and leather.[3] Piedirosso is lighter with cherry notes. Sciascinoso and Casavecchia give color and some aroma.[2]
White: Fiano, Greco, Falanghina, Asprinio, Coda di Volpe, Pallagrello Bianco, Biancolella, Forastera.[2] Fiano has body, fresh taste, nutty notes. Greco is citrusy and mineral. Falanghina smells fruity and flowery.[3]
Some international grapes like Cabernet, Merlot exist but small role.[2]
Wine Regions and Denominations
Campania has 4 DOCG wines, 15 DOC, 10 IGP.[4] Wines show different soils, climates, people.[4]
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.[1]
Beneventano (Benevento): Sannio DOC and Aglianico del Taburno DOCG, strong reds from Aglianico.[4]
Casertano (Caserta): Falerno del Massico DOC, Asprinio di Aversa DOC (vines “maritate al pioppo”), Galluccio DOC, Casavecchia di Pontelatone DOC.[4]
Naples and islands: Campi Flegrei, Vesuvio DOC (Lacryma Christi), Ischia DOC, Capri DOC, volcanic Piedirosso and Falanghina.[4]
Coastal Salerno (Amalfi and Cilento): Costa d’Amalfi DOC, Cilento DOC, Tramonti DOC, rocky soils, strong mineral and aroma. Grapes Fenile, Ginestra, Ripolo, Pepella.[4]
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.[3]
White wines: Fiano di Avellino DOCG, Greco di Tufo DOCG, Falanghina are fresh, aromatic, mineral. Coast whites lighter, inland more structured.[3]
Sparkling and rose: Small amount, Asprinio and Piedirosso, traditional methods.[1]
Campania wine is mainly native grapes, small family wineries, mix of old and new methods.[1][4][3][2]
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