ANOTHER CAMPANIA

In a region shaped by its volcanic heritage, a few big names dominate the wine scene, but Campania has so much more to offer in terms of grapes and wine styles that can only be found here

- STORY JAMES BUTTON

Campania’s trio of Taurasi, Greco di Tufo and Fiano di Avellino in the Irpinia region receive the majority of critical acclaim, but while that acclaim is deserved, they tend to overshadow what is, in reality, a much more complex region than we're led to believe. It’s a land bursting at the seams with historical grape varieties, pre-phylloxera vines, volcanic terroirs - and winemakers working hard to unlock the success of their better-known peers in the Irpinian DOCGs.

Forging an identity

Campania has an unsurpassed heritage when it comes to the grapevine. When the first Greek settlers arrived on the southern half of the Italian peninsula in the 8th century BCE, they brought with them vines, presumably not expecting to find an existing healthy viticultural tradition. Pithecusae, located on the island of Ischia, is thought to be the oldest Greek settlement in Italy. According to Pliny the Elder, its name derives from pythos (amphorae), of which there was a significant production industry particularly for wine storage - and there’s plenty of archaeological evidence today.