The Fiano
Grape
A high-quality white grape variety native to the Campania region of Italy, particularly known for Fiano di Avellino. Fiano produces aromatic and full-bodied wines with flavors of peaches, pears, hazelnuts, and herbs, along with a characteristic honeyed note as it ages. It is praised for its complexity, texture, and aging potential.
Fiano
Grape History
Fiano is a white wine grape variety that is believed to have originated in Italy. It is one of the oldest grape varieties in the world, with a history that can be traced back to ancient Roman times. Fiano is named after the Latin name "vitis apiana," which means "vine favored by bees," a nod to the grape's sweet taste that is attractive to these pollinators.
Fiano grapes are known for their thick skins, which help protect them from pests and disease, making them relatively easy to grow. The grape is also known for its high acidity, which gives the resulting wines a bright and refreshing character. Fiano wines are typically medium to full-bodied with flavors of honey, nuts, and tropical fruits, as well as a distinctive minerality.
Fiano is primarily grown in the Campania region of southern Italy, particularly in the Avellino province where it has been cultivated for centuries. The most famous Fiano-based wine from this region is Fiano di Avellino DOCG, a high-quality white wine known for its excellent aging potential and complex flavors.
In recent years, Fiano has gained popularity outside of Italy and is now also grown in other regions such as Australia and California. Australian Fiano wines, in particular, have been receiving critical acclaim for their quality and unique expression of the grape.
Fiano is often used as a varietal wine, meaning it is made primarily from Fiano grapes. However, it is also sometimes blended with other grape varieties to add complexity and balance to the final wine. Some winemakers also use Fiano to make sparkling wines or sweet dessert wines.
The projected future of the Fiano grape variety looks bright, as its popularity continues to grow both in its traditional homeland of Italy and in other parts of the world. With its ability to produce high-quality, age-worthy wines that express the unique terroir of the regions where it is grown, Fiano is sure to remain a staple in the world of wine for years to come.
Introduction
Hello, my name is Franklin Laurel - Welcome!
I started drinking wine in 1992 when I was in my early twenties and recently married. Like many other young Southern Californians, it started out with White Zinfandel. As we were a couple of young DINKs just beginning life together, and on a budget, our go-to-wine was Sutter Home White Zinfandel, which tasted a lot like wine coolers and probably cost at the time $2.49. If we really were going to splurge, we would step it up and buy Beringer White Zinfandel for $2.99. Those were the days....
After a little time, we decided to get fancy. We stepped up our game and bought some wonderful 2-Buck Chuck from Trader Joe's. The Charles Shaw (Trader Joe's Exclusive Label) wine, also known as 2-Buck-Chuck extended our pallet into Reds for only $1.99 a bottle. Over the years we continued to grow in our understanding of wine (finally ran into some good wine) and we slowly kept buying better and better bottles.
Our first wine club purchase was from Kenwood's Vineyards, in Kenwood, California located in Sonoma Valley, right next to the famous Napa Valley. I began to learn about tobacco leather, and earthiness, and lots of other strange terminology when tasting their signature Zinfandels (of the red variety). So that is how it all began.
Fast forward a couple decades, and we have been members of five different wine clubs, and now have a passion for California's red wines. My favorite by far is Cabernet Sauvignon, while my wife fancies a good Syrah, Malbec, or Merlot - but she also loves the smell of a wine barrel room, which is all about the notes of Cabernet Sauvignon.
As I come across great wine resources and useful information that I find in planning my own wine trips, I will share here for anyone that might stumble across my humble website.
Cheers! - Franklin Laurel