Ode to Fiano
If you’re like me, you learned about the white wines of Campania as a group. A trio, to be precise: fiano, greco, and falanghina. All date back to ancient times, when campania felix was colonized by the Greeks. All share similar characteristics when young—they’re light, citrusy, and posses a racy streak of acidity that goes like gangbusters with the calamari, fresh fish, and tuna carpaccio served up and down the Amalfi Coast.
This trio is widely perceived as a single unit, like the backup singers to a Motown band. To the casual observer, they seem similar, even indistinguishable.
But in reality, that’s like saying all the Supremes are alike, as I learned on my last trip to the Amalfi and Cilento coasts. Ask any Campania winemaker and they’ll tell you that certo! there is indeed a Diana Ross in the group, and her name is Fiano.
For the June 2014 issue of Tastes of Italia, I took a closer look at this break-out star, who has yet to gain fame Stateside. I spoke with winemakers Piero Mastroberardino, Luigi Maffini, Bruno De Conciliis, and Clelia Romana of Colli di Lapio to find out what’s going on with the styles, techniques, and terroir of Fiano di Avellino and Fiano Paestum.
Want to visit some of the wineries? Join our tour Amalfi Coast for Winelovers.
About La Dolce Vita
LA DOLCE VITA WINE TOURS offers wine tours in Italy, Spain and Portugal. The company was founded in 1999 by me and my Italian husband, Claudio Bisio. We have 19 itineraries in three categories: gourmet wine tours, wine + walking tours, and wine-intensive tours. We keep our groups small and target folks who aren’t “tour people” but want a learning vacation, engaging dialog with winemakers, gorgeous settings, and stellar food. Is that you? Come join us for a taste of la dolce vita.
Categories
- At Home in Piedmont (4)
- On the Road (29)
- California (1)
- Florence (1)
- Milan (1)
- Rome (4)
- Travels in Italy (10)
- Travels in Portugal (9)
- Travels in Spain (5)
- Venice (2)
- On Tour (35)
- Amafl Coast (3)
- Discover Sicily (5)
- Dolomites (6)
- Land of Barolo (3)
- Passion for Port (3)
- Piedmont & Cinque Terre Trails (1)
- Rioja Roundup (3)
- Sicilian Saunter (3)
- Slow Food Festa (1)
- Tuscan Wine Treasures (5)
- _Tour slideshows (10)
- On Wine (59)
- Amarone (3)
- Barbera (1)
- Barolo (4)
- Beaujolais (1)
- Bolgheri (3)
- Brunello (7)
- Cabernet (1)
- Cal-Ital (1)
- Champagne (1)
- Chianti Classico (5)
- Franciacorta (1)
- Garnacha (1)
- Gavi (4)
- Gewürtztraminer (1)
- Greco (1)
- Greek wines (1)
- Grillo (1)
- Malbec (1)
- Morellino di Scansano (1)
- Moscato (1)
- Nebbiolo (5)
- Nerello Mascalese (1)
- Nero d'Avola (3)
- Pinot Noir (2)
- Port (8)
- Primitivo (1)
- Prosecco (1)
- Refosco (1)
- Ribolla Gialla (1)
- Rioja (5)
- Sagrantino (2)
- Sancerre (1)
- Sangiovese (2)
- Sassicaia (3)
- Sherry (1)
- Soave (2)
- Super Tuscans (4)
- Tempranillo (1)
- TrentoDOC (1)
- Vermentino (5)
- Vin Santo (1)
- Vino Nobile (3)
- Zinfandel (2)
- Pat's Picks (12)
- Recipes (20)
- Uncategorized (4)
- Wine Events (28)
- Dolce Vita Wine Club (6)
- Tastings (7)
- Tre Bicchieri (2)
- Wine Media Guild (8)
- Winemaker Q&As (4)
About Me
I’m Patricia Thomson, and these are my dispatches from the wine world in Italy, New York, and beyond. I provide stories, not ratings, missives from life on the road as a wine-tour guide and wine writer.
Subscribe by RSS
Subscribe by email
Articles by Pat
Recent Comments
- Patricia Thomson on Rome Eats: Pizza, Wine, Gelato
- Susan Dunkin on Rome Eats: Pizza, Wine, Gelato
- Patricia Thomson on My wine & travel books for 2014
- Susan Dunkin on My wine & travel books for 2014
- Carlo Lotti on Q&A: Filippo Chia on Morellino di Scansano
Latest Tweets
@dolcetours @icustodi @tenutaterrenere @beatifulltrip @EtnaPeople @peopletna #etnamo #thankyou
#VoiceSaveJessie, for sure!
The French & Italians are united on this aversion: Brushing Off a French Stigma That Doggie Bags Are for Beggars http://t.co/MFahxbx3aK
And now, on to a Graves seminar. That must mean it's October in NYC...the season of wine tastings! http://t.co/nCYGokuybN
