Fiano di Avellino

Fiano is a grape that has been in Southern Italy for hundreds of years (13th century).  The name ‘Fiano” comes from a place named Appia near Avelinno where the grape comes from.  The main region in Campania is Fiano di Avellino DOCG.  Fiano likes lees ageing which adds texture, flavor and weight to the wine.  Fiano thrives in the volcanic soils of the Apennine Mountains. Terroir has a big impact style of Fiano which range from taut and minerally intense to nutty and rich. Fiano is a wine that can age beautifully.

Ciro Picariello Ciro 906

Fiano di Avellino, Italy 2018

A cult producer of serious, age worthy whites. The winery was founded in 1997 by husband and wife team, their first vintage under their own label was not until 2004. Their 12 hectares of vineyards owe their minerality to the volcanic soils and some of the highest altitudes in Campania. This is their flagship white is at 650 meters in elevation and is their oldest vines planted in 1990. This wine is not produced every year, only in colder vintages (more acidity). Use of ambient yeasts, no filtering or fining. It sits on the lees for 12 months on in stainless steel followed at least another 12 months in the bottle before release. 

Fun Fact: 906 is the number of this parcel on the official Avellino map.

3500 bottles, it’s only produced in the best & coolest vintages. 

Pours in the glass a medium lemon color with green tinge 

Swirl and be delighted by aromas of honeysuckle, lemon, pink grapefruit zest, green apple, hay, flinty minerals, melon and white peach. 

Sip and the prickly acid hits you first, followed by ripe flavors of honeydew melon, orange zest, lemon, green apple, hay, yeast, nectarine, honey, hazelnut skins and finishes on flinty fennel vegetal note. It is a medium bodied wine that has a great freshness, complexity and layered character.  Not to mention at 12.5% abv is a great summer white.

Pair with scallop carpaccio with lemon oil drizzle, grilled mackerel, charred cctopus salad or pasta with peas and lentils. It’s best with well structured dishes.