Vineyards full of thriving indigenous grape varieties – with the ruins of Pompeii just a stone’s throw away.
Campania is on Italy’s west coast, directly above the toe of the «boot». It is blessed with some of Italy’s most breath-taking sights: noisy Naples, the elegant island of Capri, the ruins of Pompeii as well as its majestic destroyer, the Vesuvius volcano, which sends up a puff of smoke every now and then to remind us that it is still active. Not to mention the Amalfi Coast, a stretch of coastline bursting with wildly romantic beauty, and picturesque villages like Positano.
For all wine lovers, Campania is definitely worth a trip. The wine region covers just over 40,000 hectares and is one of the most exciting that you will find anywhere in Europe today. The reason: hardly any other winegrowing area is home to so many grapes of distinctive character. Most are direct descendants of the grapes that found their way to southern Italy in the Classical period thanks to the Greeks (who were also here).
Aglianico, for example, is said to come from the word «ellenico», meaning Hellenic. Whether or not this is true, one thing is certain: this grape variety has been cultivated here for many centuries. Grown on the slopes of Vesuvius, it yields some exemplary wine. These wines, called Taurasi, have legendary life spans. They have to mature. When they are young, they come across as dark and highly concentrated, with an in-your-face muscularity. After a few years in the cellar, they come forth with astoundingly elegant structure.
The Mastroberardino dynasty is a family of winemakers who have done a lot for the current esteem that Aglianico enjoys. After the Second World War, this family also saved other southern Italian treasures from oblivion. These include the white Greco di Tufo, a wine that boasts notes of ripe stone fruit and wild herbs. And Fiano di Avellino, which forms the basis for full-bodied white wine with unique aromas of almond, hazelnut and honey, as well as good ageing potential.
Since 1996, the Mastroberardino family has even been cultivating grapevines inside the Pompeii archaeological site. Thanks to ancient records and the work of archaeologists, we know which varieties used to grow there, and do so again today. This ground-breaking work has inspired a great many imitators in recent years. Today, Campania’s wine scene is as vibrant and dynamic as can be.
Campania’s culinary specialities hardly need an introduction. This is where the famed buffalo mozzarella originated. As if through pure serendipity, it goes perfectly with the sweet San Marzano tomatoes that grow on the fertile volcanic soil of Mount Vesuvius. Naples is the historic cradle of pizza, while Amalfi lemons give every dish an immediate dash of freshness. Sun-ripened vegetables and fresh fish complete the varied menu on offer in Campania.
Aglianico del Taburno, Fiano di Avellino, Taurasi, Greco di Tufo
Aversa, Campi Flegrei, Capri, Casavecchia di Pontelatone, Castel San Lorenzo, Cilento, Costa d’Amalfi, Falerno del Massico, Galluccio, Irpinia, Ischia, Penisola Sorrentina, Sannio, Vesuvio
Antonio Caggiano, De Conciliis, Feudi di San Gregorio, Luigi Maffini, Mastroberardino, Quintodecimo, Salvatore Molettieri, Villa Matilde
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