Fiano, Sicily

Fiano is a white grape variety grown mainly in southern Italy in the regions of Campania, Sicily, Basilicata, Molise, Apulia. A diffusion that has Campania as its epicenter and that sees it migrate to Apulia and Basilicata well before the testimonies dating back to the nineteenth century. On the origin of the name Fiano it has been hypothesized a kinship with a population of the Apuans who, subjugated by the Romans in the second century BC, was forced to move to Sannio. Hence, the distribution of the Apuan vine, ancestor of Fiano in the Campania areas. With small clusters and able to guarantee low yields, Fiano produces excellent results when grown on volcanic soils, especially being able to enjoy excellent temperature ranges suitable for developing a great aromatic potential. With maturation between September and October, the Fiano is mostly aged in steel with partial maceration in contact with the skins or permanence in contact with the yeasts to ensure a soft and enveloping taste. The typical notes of Fiano range from white flowers such as acacia and wisteria, to white pulp fruits such as peach, pear, yellow melon, with slight herbaceous hints and pleasant acidity. It is an enveloping and soft wine, with a rich and complex finish, with a long persistence. Among the most important expressions appear in the appellations Fiano di Avellino DOCG, Cilento DOC and Sannio DOC.

Why buy Fiano

Buying Fiano certainly means taking a step back in time and seeing how local customs and traditions have been able to spread successfully to the point of being perfectly integrated into other climatic and cultural contexts. An excellent starting point when you decide to buy Fiano is clearly the Fiano d'Avellino with which you can get to know all the richness of Irpinia: with at least 85% of Fiano grapes it can even be accompanied by the mention 'Apianum' which recalls the ancient origin of the name.

Is there a Fiano red wine?

Fiano is a white grape variety and it is for this reason that the wines obtained can only be white wines, contrary to what happens with red grape varieties whose grapes can also be vinified in white.

Is Fiano a sparkling or still wine?

Fiano wine can be found on the market in both still and sparkling versions. The Terra d'Otranto DOC appellation includes a sparkling version produced with 90% Fiano grapes.

What are the main characteristics of Fiano wine?

Among the main organoleptic characteristics of the Fiano wine we certainly find a more or less intense straw yellow color that allows the nose to appear on the nose aromas of white pulp fruits such as peach, melon, pear, notes of cedar, chamomile and references of honey and sugared almonds. On the palate it is dense and enveloping with a discreet minerality, good acidity and an aftertaste characterized by pleasant green notes of mown grass and basil.

Sicily is a happy island for wine: from the slopes of Etna to the coasts of Cerasuolo, to the small islands of Salina and Pantelleria, each area has its own grape variety and style, with wines so different that sometimes they seem to come from different continents, obtained both from native grapes such as Grillo, Carricante and Frappato, and from great international grapes that have found a small paradise on the island, such as Chardonnay. Viticulture in this region has ancient origins, suspended between the legend that tells of a thirsty Dionysus, from whose tears the first vine was born, and the history that documents the arrival of the Greeks, and before them even the Phoenicians, with the first rooted cuttings.

Character and uniqueness of Sicilian red wines.

The slopes of Etna certainly represent one of the most suitable areas for viticulture in Sicily, with excellent results for Sicilian red wine, which here takes on an almost alpine elegance. Here the extreme conditions such as the volcanic soil, the slope of the land and the altitude of the vineyards make viticulture heroic and there are few indigenous grapes, such as Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio. Sicily, however, has many other interesting appellations as regards red wines: in addition to Etna Doc we find in fact, next to the very small Doc Eloro, which preserves rare native grapes such as Perricone and Pignatello, the Contessa Entellina appellation, cradle of cult Sicilian reds, such as Mille e Una Notte, obtained from Nero d'Avola or from international Cabernet and Merlot grapes. Do not forget the Cerasuolo di Vittoria, in south-eastern Sicily, the only DOCG in the region and an admirable union of Nero d'Avola and Frappato.

Sicilian white wine: dry or sweet, it is however a masterpiece.

Carricante, Grillo, Chardonnay, Malvasia: Sicily is not only the home of great red wines but also of intense and fragrant whites and sweet wines to make you lose your mind. From the aromatic grapes of Chardonnay are born Sicilian white wines for aging in Doc Melfi and Alcamo, able to compete with the great wines of Burgundy, while Moscato, Zibibbo and Malvasia give life to fresh and exciting wines in Salina and on the Sicilian coasts, which become splendid sweet passito wines in Pantelleria, Lipari and Noto. The results of heroic viticulture on Etna are also exceptional, where the whites obtained from Carricante grapes stand out for their minerality and longevity. Last but not least, Marsala, born mainly from white grapes and historical wine of the island of Sicily.

What is the finest Sicilian wine?

It is difficult to answer this question, because Sicily has a wine production equal to that of Veneto and Tuscany, certainly we cannot fail to mention among the red wines the Mille e Una Notte by Donnafugata and the Harmonium by Firriato among the red wines and Planeta's Chardonnay among whites. However, there are other wineries that produce excellent wines such as Tasca d'Almerita and Duca di Salaparuta, Li Ciuri and Cusumano, Palmento Costanzo and Nicosia just to name a few. Finally, among the big names in sweet wines, we cannot forget the Marsala di Florio and the sweet wines of Donnafugata.

What is the oldest sweet Sicilian wine?

Marsala is undoubtedly one of the oldest sweet wines in Sicily: as early as 1832 Vincenzo Florio, a native of Bagnara Calabra, exported this sweet wine to over 99 countries around the world.

What is the best match for a white Sicilian wine?

The Sicilian white wines, with their characteristic intensity that unites them all, the minerality that characterizes those of Etna and the savory notes typical of those born on the islands are perfect in combination with all fish dishes rich in taste, from dishes with sardines up to pasta with swordfish, passing through fish soups and cous cous up to stuffed squid and sweet and sour tuna and aubergine caponata.