Fiano

Fiano is a white grape variety from the Campania region of Italy and the island of Sicily. This wine is known for its strong flavor, intense aromas, and interesting personality.

Although it’s not as popular and recognized as Riesling, Pinot Grigio, or Chardonnay, Fiano has managed to expand outside of Italy to Australia, where the production has considerably increased. More recently, Argentina has jumped on board as well, growing Fiano in the La Rioja area, north of Mendoza.

History of Fiano

Fiano is considered a “classical vine” of Italy that’s originated in as far back as the Ancient Rome period. In fact, there is a debate that the grape might have been cultivated even earlier - by ancient Greeks!

Jancis Robinson, a wine writer, speculates that Fiano might have been labeled by Romans as vitis apiana, which translates to something like “bee vine.” That’s likely because up to this day, the bees are attracted to the sugary Fiano grapes like there is no tomorrow, which you can quickly notice around the vineyards of Avellino.

Fiano grape is well-known for its low yields, which can make wine unprofitable to produce. As a result, the wine’s production has been continually declining for the most of 19th and 20th centuries, being replaced by Trebbiano and Sangiovesevarieties that could potentially yield larger amounts of wine.

Luckily, the region growing the grapes has recently seen an influx of investment to modernize the local winemaking techniques and equipment to revitalize the indigenous and classical varieties.

Fiano Wine Regions

The Fiano grape was nearly extinct in the second half of the 20th century. If it wasn’t for the increased interest in variety led by notable winemakers like Mastroberardino, Fiano would’ve never seen its renaissance around Avellino.

Fiano Wine Styles

Fiano wine has a huge potential to age and can develop for many years after the vintage date. In its youth, the wine is usually intensely flavored and aromatic with the notes of honey, which later translates into nutty and spicy notes.

Thanks to modern winemaking techniques, the quality of Fiano has increased dramatically over the years by limiting the wine’s oxidation and preserving its freshness.

If you’d like to try a bottle of this wonderful white wine, buy Fiano in our store in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, or online!