dal Vulcano Fiano Beneventano

Fiano (pronounced “fee-ahn-no”) is a native white grape from the Campania region in southern Italy. Produced from vineyards sitting amongst ancient volcanic soils (aka the name dal Vulcano!) and thermal water sources – the Fiano grape has a history dating to ancient Roman times and possibly the Greeks before them!

From the Beneventano sub region of Campania this is a dry style, medium bodied white with a rich texture and flavours of honey, tropical fruits, hazlenuts and spice.

So what’s Fiano most similar to? Well, those that like a modern style Chardonnay will like the richness and tropical/citrus flavours. The sometimes waxy texture is what you might find in a Semilllon and the pear and honey like flavours are similar to a Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio. Fiano also has the ability to age gracefully for 5-10 years from vintage.

Here’s a fun Fiano fact – it can develop a sweetness that makes it attractive to bees! They reckon the ancient name for the grape was “Vitis Apiana” or “the vine beloved of the bees.”

As for a food match – a richer, more textural white like this (especially produced from a coastal area) can pair with fish, seafood and white meats in rich, creamy sauces.