Away from the dazzling Amalfi coast, the archaeological hotspots of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Paestum, and the bright lights of Naples, visitors can find a quieter Campania.
Truffles, chestnut and olive trees and, of course, vines grow in a spectacular landscape of hills and mountains which contrasts with the coastal plain.
Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for 20 top Campania white wines worth seeking out
The most important among an assortment of largely indigenous white grape varieties are undeniably Fiano and Greco. Found in wines throughout the region, as well as beyond Campania’s borders, these reach their apogee in the DOCGs of Fiano di Avellino and Greco di Tufo, widely considered to be two of Italy’s finest white wine denominations.
Established as DOCs in 1978 and 1970 respectively, they were both recognised as DOCGs in 2003.
Located in Irpinia in the province of Avellino, about an hour’s drive northeast from Naples, the vineyards of predominantly clayey-calcareous soils with volcanic, sand and mineral deposits range in altitude from 250m to about 650m, while the surrounding mountains reach to 1,577m. This gives the grapes grown here an advantage in the form of large diurnal temperature variations (up to 20°C cooler at night in some locations), allowing for full ripening but preserving aromatics and acidity, aided by cool winds blowing in from the Tyrrhenian sea which also reduce disease pressure in the vineyards.
