Understanding Campania's grapes and appellations
Campania's vineyards sit on volcanic soils and steep hillsides around Naples, the Apennines and the Cilento coast, and the region has held onto grape varieties found almost nowhere else. Aglianico is the backbone of the red wines: it ripens late, builds firm tannins and high acidity, and in the Taurasi DOCG it produces wines that can age for decades. On the white side, Fiano di Avellino and Greco di Tufo are the two appellations worth knowing — Fiano grown in the hills around Avellino tends toward floral and nutty notes with real texture, while Greco di Tufo, named after the town and its tufa-rich soils, runs drier and more mineral. Falanghina, produced across a wider area of the region, offers an earlier-drinking alternative with more fruit-forward character. These are not international varieties transplanted to a warm climate; they are grapes shaped by Campania's own geology over centuries, which is why the wines taste like nowhere else in Italy. Browse Italian wines or go straight to the Campania producers working with these varieties today.
Campania's volcanic soils and what they mean for the wine
Much of Campania's wine country sits in the shadow of Vesuvius or on soils laid down by volcanic activity over millennia. Volcanic soils drain well, retain heat overnight and carry a mineral character that passes into the wine — it is one reason Campania whites often have that saline, stony quality alongside their fruit. The hills of Irpinia, where Taurasi, Fiano di Avellino and Greco di Tufo are all produced, sit inland at elevation, which slows ripening and preserves acidity even in warm years. That combination of volcanic mineral character and altitude-driven freshness is what makes the wines from this part of southern Italy worth seeking out. For context on how other Italian regions with distinct terroir compare, see Sicilian wines, wines from Apulia or the wider Italian selection.
How to choose a Campania wine
Start with what you want from the glass. For a structured red that rewards patience, Taurasi built on Aglianico is the reference point — expect firm tannins and dark fruit when young, and more complexity with a few years of bottle age. If you want something to open now, a Piedirosso from the Campi Flegrei or the Vesuvio DOC is lighter, more approachable and drinks well with food. For whites, Fiano and Greco di Tufo are the serious choices: both have the structure to sit alongside rich dishes, and both age better than their price often suggests. Falanghina is the more everyday option — versatile, food-friendly and widely produced. If you are new to the region, the Campania wine cases from a single producer are a practical way to taste across a grower's range in one order before committing to individual bottles. Independent wine experts on Free Grape Society rate and review wines they have personally tasted, so the reviews you read on a wine page reflect the expert's own experience with that bottle.