Fiano

Fiano is a historic white grape from southern Italy, best known for producing ageworthy, textural wines with refined aromatics and mineral structure. Closely tied to Campania, and in particular the hills around Avellino, Fiano has become one of Italy’s most respected native white varieties.

Wines Featuring Fiano

About

History: The Fiano grape variety has a long and rich history in Campania, dating back to ancient times. It was once known as the "Apianum" grape, and was highly valued by the ancient Romans for its aromatic qualities and ability to produce complex, age-worthy wines. Today, Fiano is considered one of Italy's most distinctive white grape varieties, and is prized for its complexity, minerality, and bright acidity. Fiano has experienced a remarkable surge in popularity over the last decade, expanding beyond its historical roots in the hills between Avellino and Benevento to become a widely planted grape variety around the world. With its reputation as a serious grape capable of producing wines that are exciting in their youth and continue to impress with age, Fiano owes much of its modern success to the efforts of leading Campanian families and wineries such as Mastroberardino and Feudi di San Gregorio, who have helped elevate Fiano alongside other notable varieties like Greco and Aglianico. Style: Fiano is a white grape variety that is primarily grown in Southern Italy, particularly in the Campania region. It is known for producing full-bodied and aromatic wines with flavors of citrus, tropical fruits, and a distinct nuttiness. The Fiano grape finds its best expression in the DOCG appellation of Fiano di Avellino due to the region's unique volcanic soil, high altitude, and cooler temperatures. The resulting wines are complex, with notes of honey, hazelnuts, and a rich minerality. Locations: While the Fiano grape is most commonly associated with Campania, it has also been successfully cultivated in other regions around the world. In Australia, Fiano has gained popularity in recent years and is now grown in several wine regions, including McLaren Vale, Riverland, and the King Valley. In addition, Fiano has been planted in California, particularly in the Sierra Foothills, where it is valued for its ability to produce wines with bright acidity and tropical fruit flavors. Fiano has also been found to grow well in the high-altitude vineyards of Argentina's Salta region, where it produces wines with notes of honey, dried fruits, and a minerality reminiscent of its Campanian counterparts. Overall, Fiano's success in these regions highlights its adaptability and potential to produce distinctive and high-quality wines in diverse terroirs around the world. Fiano's success in these regions highlights its adaptability and potential to produce distinctive and high-quality wines in diverse terroirs around the world.

History

Fiano’s origins trace back to ancient Campania, where it was likely cultivated by the Greeks and later prized by the Romans. Historical references suggest that Fiano was once called Vitis Apiana, named for the bees (api) that were attracted to its sweet berries. It was widely grown in Irpinia during the Middle Ages and became particularly associated with the area around Lapio and Avellino. Like many native varieties, Fiano declined in the twentieth century, overshadowed by higher yielding grapes. Its revival in the late twentieth century was led by producers focused on quality, culminating in the establishment of Fiano di Avellino DOCG in 2003. It is now celebrated for its complexity, terroir sensitivity, and ageing potential.

DNA

DNA profiling confirms that Fiano is genetically distinct and likely indigenous to Campania. It has no direct relation to Greco or Falanghina, though all three are often grown together. In Puglia, a different grape also called Fiano is now classified as Fiano Minutolo, a separate variety with more pronounced aromatics. True Fiano is generally bottled under its full name or under the DOCG Fiano di Avellino, with Fiano di Avellino Riserva appearing on longer aged wines. It is now grown in other southern Italian regions, including Basilicata and Sicily, and is gaining attention in Australia.

In the Vineyard

Fiano is a low yielding, early to mid ripening variety that thrives in volcanic and calcareous soils. It performs best in hillside vineyards with good diurnal temperature variation, particularly around Lapio, Montefredane, and Summonte, where elevations range from 400 to 700 metres. The vine is relatively disease resistant and drought tolerant, but its naturally low productivity means it is best suited to quality focused viticulture. Thick skins contribute to structure and resilience, while small berries produce concentrated musts. Fiano often retains high acidity even in warm years, making it well suited to both fresh and ageworthy wines.

In the Cellar

Fiano is typically fermented in stainless steel to preserve purity and precision, though extended lees contact is commonly used to build texture. Some producers experiment with acacia barrels, large format wood, or amphora to enhance complexity without overwhelming the variety’s aromatics. Malolactic fermentation is usually avoided to retain acidity. Fiano responds well to bottle ageing, and many top wines are held back for release after several years. Oak ageing is rare but not unheard of, and a few producers explore skin contact for additional structure. Across styles, restraint and balance are key to expressing Fiano’s quiet depth.

Wine Style

Fiano produces dry white wines that are medium to full bodied, with moderate to high acidity and a textural, often waxy mouthfeel. Aromas include white peach, pear, hazelnut, citrus peel, broom flower, and smoke. With age, wines develop notes of honey, chamomile, crushed herbs, and flint. The palate is typically structured and saline, with a long, nutty finish and a restrained, elegant profile. Alcohol levels are moderate, and the best examples show tension, depth, and a mineral edge. While fresh and vibrant in youth, Fiano can evolve beautifully over a decade or more.

Predictions

Fiano is increasingly viewed as one of Italy’s great white grapes. Producers in Irpinia are exploring single vineyard bottlings and altitude driven styles that reflect soil and site. A growing number of natural and low intervention winemakers are working with Fiano for its structure and stability. Outside Campania, high quality examples are emerging in Basilicata, Sicily, and even Australia’s Riverland and Adelaide Hills, where the grape’s heat resistance and balance make it attractive. Fiano’s ability to combine richness with freshness has made it popular among sommeliers and collectors seeking distinctive, ageworthy white wines.

Recommendations

Guido Marsella produces a benchmark Fiano di Avellino with purity, drive, and ageing potential. Ciro Picariello crafts elegant, mineral wines from high altitude sites in Summonte, while Pietracupa offers refined, flinty bottlings with precision and depth. Colli di Lapio makes textured, structured Fiano from old vines in the heart of the DOCG. Outside Campania, Planeta and Feudo Montoni in Sicily are producing expressive, Mediterranean influenced styles. These wines showcase Fiano’s range, from taut and stony to rich and complex.