This month for our
ItalianFWT (Italian Food, Wine & Travel) monthly group is
exploring volcanic wines and food or travel to the regions of
Campania and Sicily (also volcanic wine producing regions). After
hearing about this month's topic I immediately though southern Italy
and more specifically Campania. Today I'm taking you to the region
of Campania, which I've mentioned before is where my dad's side of
the family is from. I have yet to go to his home town of Candida in
the village of Avellino, but I will make it there some day.
Especially since Avellino in particular makes some fantastic wines.
I'm always intrigued by wines that are grown on volcanic soil and the
characteristics that they impart into the wines.
Avellino is in a
part of Campania known as Irpinia that is known for producing many of
the DOCG wines of the region including Fiano, Greco di Tufo and
Taurasi (made of aglianico). The fiano grape that I'm sharing today
is also known as vitis apiana stemming from the word apia for bees
known for it's sweetness that the bees are attracted to. Fiano is a
grape known for it's aromatics and nuttiness, although I didn't pick
up nutiness in my particular bottle that I'm sharing with you today,
but it's beautiful bouquet showed lovely in the glass. I tasted the
2013 Fratelli Uriuolo Monte Faliesi Fiano di Avellino.
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| Wine map of Campania copyright of Federdoc |
Fratelli
Urciuolo began in 1996 by two brothers, Antonello and Ciro
Uricuiolo. There was very good knowledge of what the soil was
composed of as within the Uricuiolo family there had been generations
that had planted chestnut trees and knew the soils well. There are
traces of volcanic ash and clay within the soil of the land they own.
Antonello's drive to go learn to become a winemaker at the
university triggered him and his brother to make their father's dream
of winemaking a reality.
The brothers
produce about 50% of their own production that's hand harvested and
the rest come from local growers. They are situated in the town of
Forino about an hour south of Naples, but they have other vineyard
sites as well. They started growing the fiano grape and have
increased their production to include the other popular grapes of
Campania: greco, falanghina and aglianico.
The 2013 Fratelli
Urciuolo Monte Faliesi Fiano di Avellino DOCG is a straw color with a
golden hue. On the nose are lemon, banana and minerals. It's a dry,
medium to full bodied wine that has a creamy texture with good
acidity and a little saltiness. It's a persistent and well-balanced
wine that has the potential to age well. It retails about $20. This
Fiano di Avellino has been awarded the Tre Bicchieri award a number
of times as well as their Taurasi wines.
Have you tried the
wines of Campania and have any favorites?
The #ItalianFWT Crew Presents...
- Scorched Terroir and Explosive Wines by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
- Irpinia is the New Tuscany by Feast on History
- Etna Rosso: Wine from the Slopes of an Active Volcano by FoodWineClick
- A Beginners Guide to Volcanic Wines by L'Occasion
- Soave Wine Erupting with Flavor by Rockin Red Blog
- Sicily's Scorched Earth Wines at Gambino Winery by TheWining Hour
- Crazy Good Wines on Mount Etna by Undiscovered Italy
- Campania Food & Wine ABC's: Favorites by Vineyard Adventures
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