Feudi di San Gregorio, Fiano di Avellino

Fiano is very nearly getting its time in the sun. It is a beautiful grape variety from the south of Italy that makes elegant, round and supple wines (mostly) without the use of oak barrel ageing. Flavours of orange blossom, chamomile, peaches and citrus juices make it interesting, food-worthy and simply delicious. This example is from one of the top producers and is the perfect match for richer seafood and crustaceans.

There is a town called Avellino, but it's not quite on the tourist map, with a population of 54000 (about the same as Chester, if you're interested) it is an industrial hub an hour's drive to the east of Naples. However, Avellino is an ancient town and the Fiano grape is a very ancient variety - definitely Roman and very possibly Greek. Such is its importance to the history of the region that it has its own DOCG and is consistently rated as one of the wine styles most important to the south if Italy. Feudi di San Gregorio have always made one and the management of their vineyard area within the DOCG is wonderful. All very romantically carried out on their 300 hectares of vines that live in the shadow of Vesuvius.

Like the Greco di Tufo, their Fiano is aged for 4 months in steel tanks on its fine lees and bottled with all its gorgeous fruity character knit together with balanced acidity, mouthfeel and delicious complexity.

The wine also has a surprising ability to age for up to ten years, gaining nutty complexity, honey notes and candied peel on its way.