Campania

The coastal region with its beautiful islands of Capri and Ischia, of which Naples is the capital, evokes associations with the Italian 'Cinema' from the 1960s rather than with wine. Nevertheless, Campania is a wine-producing region par excellence. Many native grape varieties thrive on an area of 41,000 hectares, some of which have their origins in Greek and Roman antiquity. In recent years, viticulture in Campania has made great leaps forward and the result is clearly visible.

The region has 18 DOCs and 9 IGTs. The Taurasi was allowed to add the 'G' to its DOC status in 1993 and stands for a full, harmonious red wine with a long finish, made in the province of Avellino from the Aglianico grape . If the wine has matured for 4 years, Riserva may be added after the name. The Taurasi is also called 'the Barolo of the South' because of its relationship with the Piedmont wine in terms of strength and maturation potential.

Also from Avellino is the Fiano di Avellino DOC, a white wine already praised by the Romans based on the Fiano, possibly supplemented with the Greco and the Trebbiano Toscano. Excellent with shellfish, but also with grilled fish and various cheeses. Another beautiful white wine is made from the Greco in the same province, the DOC Greco di Tufo. 'Tufo' refers to the tuff and also calcareous soil on which the Greco grapes thrive. The result is a pale yellow or golden yellow wine, soft and dry in taste. Good with various fish, lobster and cheese. It is also made a Spumante. In the north, in the province of Caserta, the DOC Falerno del Massico is produced. A white wine based on the Falanghina and two red wines based on the Aglianico and Primitivo respectively. Both wines are allowed to label 'Riserva' after two years of aging. DOC Vesuvio, in the province of Naples, includes white wines from the Coda di Volpe and Verdeca, possibly supplemented with Greco and Falanghina. This produces tight-dry, slightly acidic wines, which are easy to combine with shellfish and the local specialty 'mozzarella di bufala' (buffalo milk mozzarella). The red wines under the same DOC are made from Piedirosso and Sciascinoso and may display the name 'Lacryma Christi' or 'tear of Christ' on the label if the wine contains at least 12% alcohol. This qualification goes back to the story that Jesus would have cried when he watched licentious Neapolitan life.