Fiano
TL; DR
One of Italy's most praiseworthy white grapes - complex, fresh, and textural! Not to mention a fantastically versatile food wine!
So, what is Fiano all about?--red
Fiano is an ancient Italian white grape type. It's also one of the few white grapes that handles well to aging, but is also impressive in its youth! Its flavour and style can range from bright, taut and tangy to big and boldly flavoured.
View our range and buy Fiano wine online today »
Where did Fiano originate?--aromatic
Fiano has been grown in southern Italy for hundreds and hundreds of years. In fact, the first documented mention of the grape variety was in the 13th Century! Despite its rich history, Fiano has seen some ups and downs in plantings and popularity over the years. This is mainly due to the devastating effects of phylloxera. (Phylloxera is a fatal louse that ran rampant and wiped out thousands of hectares of vines all across the globe!). In fact, things got so bad that the grape was almost forgotten until the 1970s! After its rediscovery, plantings picked up quick, thanks to Fiano's quality performance in very warm regions. Without a doubt, Fiano is trending and we forecast only more and more plantings to come!
Who's famous for Fiano nowadays?--racy
Southern Italy reigns supreme for this high-quality grape with its 'home base' in Campania. Significant plantings are also found in Puglia, but Campania offers the most renowned and best expressions of the grape, particularly if you see Fiano di Avellino DOCG on the label. These wines can age beautifully!
Fiano thrives in warm sunny climates and can hold its acidity wonderfully despite warmer growing conditions. This means it produces balanced wines with richness quite easily in warm regions — very unique!
Given its love for the heat, it's no surprise that Australia has been building a solid reputation for the grape recently too. The most exciting examples are coming out of McLaren Vale and Riverland.
What does Fiano taste like?--aromatic
Fiano has a varied fruit spectrum and can range from zesty lemon and grapefruit flavours to ripe pear and apricot. There's always some wonderful fruity richness, and often a little floral lift of jasmine, as well as nuttiness, like scorched almonds or hazelnuts. On the palate, it has bright acidity and is known to carry a pulpy texture with balanced weight and roundness. These traits make high-quality examples of Fiano age splendidly.
What are the main styles of Fiano?--cellar
Fiano can range in style depending on where it comes from and is quite sensitive to its terroir. Typically it goes by one of two faces; Light and fresh with racy acidity and mineral notes, or rich, nutty and weighty — both styles being quite textural. The best wines from Italy fall into the latter camp, with weight and power. The recent batch of hot Aussies is the former — more fresh and tangy.
What foods pair with Fiano?--plum
Whatever the style, Fiano truly is a great food pairing wine, so you need not be shy in the kitchen! Creamy chicken or pork pasta dishes, chicken and leek pies and pastries, and rich seafood soups and chowders work wonders. It's also brilliant with barbecued prawns, delightful with sweet ‘n’ sour creations, and ideal with scallops, salmon, simple pasta dishes. Anything in tomato and mascarpone sauce works too - it’s sure to be a real winner at your dining table.
But if you want to get more particular with style, a young, fresh example is best suited to antipasto, salted fish and spicy rice bowls! Whereas more powerful expressions work better with richer plates like grilled whiting, glazed meats, pork or fried chicken.
Recipes to pair with Fiano--red
Spicy Salmon and Tomato Traybake
Scallops with Mint Chutney
Caprese Quinoa
Easy Poached Sea Bass in Cream Sauce
Tropical Chicken Traybake
Fun Fact--earth
Fiano may well have been the grape used for the famed Roman wine 'Apianum', found in Campania over 2000 years ago. The wine was produced by a grape known to the Romans as vitis apiana, essentially meaning 'wine of the bees'.
Even today bees are strongly attracted to the sweetness of Fiano grapes and are commonly seen in vineyards in Campania!
If you like this, you should also give these grapes a guzzle...--wines
About the Author & Artist
Alex is a certified sommelier that spends more time running in old-growth forests than any other somm — impulsively training her nose while at it! A talented illustrator with a unique style, her doodling works are inspired by the world of wine - and somehow, seem to improve after a glass or two.