Campania

In the area of “Tear of Christ".

Wine from Campania is hardly known here. Campania is associated with Naples, Vesuvius, Salerno, Ischia, the Capri fishermen, the Amalfi coast and of course pizza. But wine? You have to help wine lovers on their way. Taurasi, Falanghina, Fiano di Avellino, Greco di Tufo and Lacryma Christi. Ring a bell?

The fine wines were already highly appreciated in antiquity. Names such as Falerner, Massiker and Surrentiner were often mentioned in ancient literature and received much praise. Before its destruction by the Vesuvius eruption in 79, the ancient city of Pompeii was an important Roman wine-growing town. The most famous wine of the "Campania felix" (Happy Land) - as the Romans called the region previously inhabited by Greek settlers - bears the name Lacryma Christi (Tear of Christ).

In the region on the Tyrrhenian Sea around the port of Naples, almost 25,000 hectares are planted with vines that produce around 130 million litres of wine per year. The four DOCG and 15 DOC zones, however, account for only 19 percent of total production.

The wines produced in the Mediterranean climate of Campania can thrive on the volcanic and alluvial soils. For some time the economic crisis and the flight of the rural population to the cities slowed down the vigour of the winegrowers. In the meantime, however, a lot is happening again, especially in the area of quality. Pioneers such as Mastroberardino and Feudi di Gregorio contribute significantly to this.

Aglianico, Falerner and again and again Vesuvius.

Lacryma Christi, produced south of Naples, is labelled Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio DOC. Further to the northeast, the best white wine of Campania is pressed around Avellino from the Fiano grape - the Fiano di Avellino DOCG, which also tolerates several years of bottle ageing and then convinces with a multi-layered bouquet as well as with structure and complexity. A little further north, the great rival Greco di Tufo DOCG thrives on volcanic ground. It is often perceived as fresher and more fruity and is a wonderful accompaniment to food. Particularly fine, often fragrant and elegant white wines are pressed from the grape variety Falanghina.

The outstanding red wine of Campania grows a little further east and is called Taurasi DOCG, which is pressed from the Aglianico grape, which was often underestimated in the past. Due to its high tannin content, this plant can mature for a long time in the bottle. When it has developed into a deep, concentrated and very distinguished wine, it is usually praised in the highest tones. And north of Naples, the legendary Falerner was revived as a DOC wine in its ancient region of origin.

In Campania, especially in the region of Avellino and in the DOCG Taburno a little further north, the red variety Aglianico in particular produces full-bodied, colourful and aromatic red wines. Here, too, the autochthonous, partly very old grape varieties are remembered and Asprinio, Biancolella, Coda di Volpe and Piedirosso are planted again. Exciting wines come naturally from the volcanic sites near Vesuvius, from the steep terraces of the Amalfi coast and from the offshore islands. The Sorrento peninsula and the picturesque islands of Capri and Ischia also produce some remarkable wines. Even further south on the coast is the large and still young DOC area Cilento, which has remained rather undiscovered but of which some elegant wines have already attracted attention. Future area. SUPERIORE.DE