Top wines from Campania DOCGs

The Campania region, encompassing the Amalfi Coast, the Bay of Naples and the volcano of Mount Vesuvius, has an extraordinary history of winemaking. Ancient Greek settlers bought vines to Italy when they began populating the south of the country in the 8th century BC. The Romans later embraced this vinous culture, and it was Falernian – from Campania’s modern-day Falerno del Massico DOC – that was their most prized wine.

Today, Campania is a hotbed of indigenous varieties under various DOC guises, but the region’s three DOCGs are all clustered together in inland Irpinia, close to the Apennine Mountains.

The Taurasi DOCG produces some excellent reds made from Aglianico, while the Greco di Tufo and Fiano di Avellino DOCGs just west and southwest of Taurasi respectively produce some of Italy’s standout white wines.

Irpinia

Irpinia sits on a plateau rising up to 700 metres above sea level in the foothills of the Apennine Mountains, providing a drastically contrasting climate to the warmer coastal zones of Campania. Temperature differences between day and night are wide, ensuring a long, even ripening and the retention of acids in the grapes.

Spring frosts are a constant threat, and autumn rain can disrupt harvest, which is typically not undertaken until October or November.

The soils are a mix of limestone, clay and volcanic, and some areas also have large deposits of sulphur.

Taurasi

The Taurasi DOCG covers 450ha under vine. Established as a DOC in 1970 and promoted to DOCG in 1993, the area varies in height from 300 to 650 metres above sea level.

The wines produced here must be at least 85% Aglianico, with up to 15% other local red varieties. They must be aged for a minimum of 36 months (48 months for Riservas), of which 12 months (18 months for Riservas) must be spent in barrel.

Taurasi wines are traditionally renowned for their longevity, although many producers produce earlier-drinking wines by utlilising pumping-over and racking to minimise the naturally reductive nature of the variety.

Greco di Tufo

Around 640ha are under vine in the Greco di Tufo DOCG. As the name suggests, the wine made here is the Greco variety grown on tufo (volcanic soil). It was designated a DOC in 1970 and promoted to DOCG in 2003.

Greco thrives in this elevated DOCG ranging from 300 to 600m above seal level, far away from the humidity of the coast where its tight clusters of grapes are prone to rot and downy mildew – although the presence of the Sabato River which divides the Greco di Tufo area means there is still some risk to grapes grown here.

As well as the still white wines it is famous for (min. 85% Greco & up to 15% Coda di Volpe), the DOCG also produces traditional-method sparkling wine with the same varietal requirements and aged for a minimum of 36 months on the lees.

Fiano di Avellino

The Fiano di Avellino DOCG has 411ha under vine. A DOC since 1978, it was promoted to DOCG in 2003. The area ranges in height from 400 to 700m above sea level.

Its wines must be a minimum of 85% Fiano, with the remainder made up of Coda di Volpe, Greco or Trebbiano.

Campania DOCGs – Wines to try:

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