The culture of the wine in Campania has ancient origins, it is dated back to the 8th century B.C. with the arrival on the Coast of the Ancient Greek, and later with the cultivation technique of the Ancient Romans. These were the so called “Emperors wines” poured during the feast only once, because they were considered so precious.

Let’s discover together, in a virtual journey, these famous wines of great elegance.

Only 50 km from the Amalfi Coast in the city of Avellino there is a small area called : Irpinia. Surrounded by mountains and hills literally known as “Land of wolfs” (irpus is the Latin word for wolf), where Fiano di Avellino, Greco di Tufo and Taurasi are produced, all of them have the Denominations of Protected Origins (Docg).

We start our journey walking through the hills that surround Avellino and along the Calore River. The first stop is in one of the areas where the Fiano grapes grow. The Ancient Romans called these grapes “vitis Apiana” (Apiana means bee) because they were so sweet that the bees used to drink the juice. Fiano di Avellino is an elegant, age-worthy white wine, flavourful, with enchanting aromas of flowers, honey, peach and hazelnut. It can age really well due to its organoleptic characteristics.

Let’s continue our amazing journey and stop in Tufo: one of the 8 small municipalities where the Greco di Tufo can be produced. The land rich of sulfur gives the Greco grape a gold colour with a hint of amber. Many people call this wine “a red dressed like a white”, due to the intense gold colour of the wine. A glass of Greco di Tufo is a unique experience: intense aroma of fresh citrus fruits, yellow fruits and mineral notes. A complex white wine with a strong personality, it can be aged for many years.

We finish our journey with the king of the South wine: Taurasi, made from Aglianico grapes, after an aging process of three years, one of which in wood barrels. Taurasi is a full bodied, tannic, well aged red wine so complex that on the nose you get a jam of cherry and red fruits, black paper, tobacco and balsamic notes. The best pairing with this wine is roasted meat, charcuterie board but also a nice fireplace and some dark chocolate.

These are all typical flavours of special wines in a unique land : Irpinia! I hope you will try one day these amazing wines and feel like an Emperor too!