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The Romans favoured the vineyards along the coast north of Naples where Falernum, the most treasured wine of the empire, was grown. They also admired the wines of Vesuvius and the hills of Avellino. The Greeks, too, recognized the privileged nature of the place, introducing vines which still stand out today in Aglianico and Greco. Campania's wine making fortunes had been declining for decades as growers left the land and a majority of producers ignored the DOC requirements. However there are some notable exceptions to this decline: red Taurasi; white Fiano di Avellino; and Greco di Tufo. All of these are from grapes grown in the hills east of Naples. Taurasi, from Aglianico, has been called 'the Barolo of the south' due to itthe quality and ability to age. However, the style is uniquely its own and differs from the true Borolo (king of Italian wines). Taurasi is now a DOCG and Fiano and Greco are among italy's most distinguished whites. The names of grapes grown in Campania and along the Amalfi Coast have a lot of history and legend behind them. Aglianico is a red grape which was brought to the region by the Greeks and then cultivated by the Romans. Piedirosso, another red, is named after the gnarled red bases of the vines, which look like the red feet of a native dove. The red Coda di volpe grows in a long bunch reminiscent of the tail of a wolf. Sciascinosa was also known as 'olivella' as these grapes are oval, or olive-shaped. Falanghina is a white wine grape, the vines being trained on phalanges (stakes) by the Greeks. Fiano, another white, usually referred to as 'Fiano di Avellina' is grown in the Avellina district of Campania; the name is derived from the Roman apiana which, legend has it, refers to the fact that bees favoured this grape. The most popular white is Greco di Tufo - another reference to a grape brought here by the Greeks. |
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