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Campania

Italy

About Campania

The ancient Greeks called this region Oenotria, the land of wine. Campania's volcanic soils, particularly around Mount Vesuvius and in Irpinia, produce some of southern Italy's most distinctive wines. Aglianico, grown in the inland hills of Taurasi, is often called the 'Barolo of the south' for its deep color, firm tannins, and remarkable aging potential. The white grapes Fiano di Avellino and Greco di Tufo produce complex, mineral whites with unusual depth and longevity for southern Italian whites. Falanghina, more widely planted, makes fresh, floral wines perfect for the region's seafood. The combination of ancient grape varieties and volcanic terroir gives Campania wines a character that is genuinely unique.

Vintage Ratings

Rating:
5
4
3
2
1
PeakReadyHold
Year20242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005
Red
White
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Cork tracks drinking windows for every Campania vintage in your cellar. Sign up

Outstanding Campania Vintages

The best recent vintages rated excellent or exceptional.

Red

2022

Hold
Excellent

Very good Taurasi with ripe fruit balancing Aglianico's firm tannins.

2028Peak 2033–20442048

2021

Hold
Excellent

Excellent balance with fresh acidity lifting the dense Aglianico fruit.

2028Peak 2033–20422046

2020

Almost ready
Excellent

Very good vintage with approachable tannins and dark berry richness.

2027Peak 2032–20412045

2019

Ready
Excellent

Excellent Taurasi with power and polish, built for long aging.

2026Peak 2031–20402044

2017

Ready
Excellent

Excellent vintage with aromatic complexity and fine-grained tannins.

2024Peak 2029–20382042

2016

Ready
Excellent

Very good Taurasi with classic structure and dark spice notes.

2023Peak 2028–20362040

2015

Ready
Excellent

Rich, approachable Aglianico with generous fruit and ripe tannins.

2022Peak 2027–20362040

2013

At peak
Excellent

Very good wines with classic Irpinia character and firm backbone.

2020Peak 2025–20342038

2011

At peak
Excellent

Excellent Taurasi with depth and aging potential.

2017Peak 2022–20322035

2010

At peak
Exceptional

Outstanding, benchmark Taurasi with extraordinary structure and complexity.

2016Peak 2022–20362040

2007

At peak
Exceptional

Outstanding Taurasi vintage with immense concentration and finesse.

2013Peak 2020–20342038

2006

At peak
Excellent

Very good wines with solid structure and dark fruit intensity.

2012Peak 2018–20302034

2005

At peak
Excellent

Very good Taurasi, drinking well now with softening tannins.

2011Peak 2016–20282032

White

2022

At peak
Excellent

Very good vintage with ripe fruit and underlying mineral tension.

2023Peak 2024–20282029

2021

At peak
Excellent

Excellent mineral-driven whites with vibrant acidity and length.

2022Peak 2023–20272028

2020

At peak
Excellent

Very good Fiano and Greco with lively fruit and structure.

2021Peak 2022–20262027

2019

Drink now
Excellent

Excellent whites with aromatic complexity and bright acidity.

2020Peak 2021–20252026

2017

Past window
Excellent

Very good with classic Fiano nuttiness and Greco citrus.

2018Peak 2019–20242025

2016

Past window
Excellent

Excellent whites, drink now while still fresh.

2017Peak 2018–20232024

DOC & DOCG

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Terroir & Character

Climate

drymediterranean

Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters. Coastal breezes moderate temperatures while volcanic soils retain heat, creating ideal conditions for both powerful reds and aromatic whites with excellent acidity.

Terroir

volcanic soilsmineral-richclaylimestone

Predominantly volcanic soils rich in pumice, ash, and minerals from Mount Vesuvius and other ancient volcanoes. The terrain varies from coastal plains to steep hillside vineyards up to 700 meters elevation, with limestone and clay deposits adding complexity to the mineral-driven character of the wines.

Typical Aromas

volcanic mineralityMediterranean herbswhite peachalmondssea saltwild fennel
Explore the aroma wheel

Classification System

Campania’s ancient grape varieties (Aglianico, Fiano, Greco) produce some of southern Italy’s most age-worthy wines, led by Taurasi.

DOCG

Taurasi, Fiano di Avellino, Greco di Tufo, Aglianico del Taburno

DOC

Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio, Falerno del Massico, Irpinia, Cilento

IGT

Campania IGT, Paestum

Grapes of Campania

Falanghina

white
Body
Sweetness
Acidity
citruswhite flowerspeachherbs

Fresh, floral white increasingly popular across the region

Fiano

white
Body
Sweetness
Acidity
peachmelonmangohazelnuts

Complex, mineral whites from volcanic soils

Greco

white
Body
Sweetness
Acidity
citruspeachalmondmineral

Greco di Tufo, a mineral, age-worthy DOCG white

Piedirosso

red
Body
Tannins
Sweetness
Acidity
red cherrypomegranateherbssmoke

Local red grape often blended with Aglianico

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Campania wine special?▼
Campania has been making wine since ancient Greek times - they called it Oenotria, literally 'the land of wine.' What really sets it apart is the volcanic soils around Mount Vesuvius and in Irpinia, which give the wines incredible minerality and complexity. The region's star grape Aglianico produces wines so structured and age-worthy that Taurasi is often called the 'Barolo of the south.'
What are the best Campania vintages?▼
Recent years have been really strong - 2021 and 2022 both earned 4/5 ratings for both reds and whites. 2021 was particularly excellent for mineral-driven whites with vibrant acidity, while the reds showed beautiful balance with fresh acidity lifting the dense Aglianico fruit. 2020 was also very good, especially for Fiano and Greco with lively fruit and structure.
What grapes are grown in Campania?▼
The two stars are Aglianico for reds and Fiano for whites. Aglianico is the noble red grape that makes the powerful, age-worthy Taurasi wines in the inland hills. Fiano produces some of southern Italy's most elegant white wines, and you'll also find Greco, another excellent indigenous white variety that thrives in the volcanic soils.
Is 2022 a good year for Campania?▼
Yes, 2022 was very good across the board, earning 4/5 ratings for both reds and whites. The Taurasi reds show ripe fruit that nicely balances Aglianico's naturally firm tannins, while the whites have that classic combination of ripe fruit with underlying mineral tension. It's a vintage that should drink well and age gracefully.
When should I drink Campania 2022?▼
The whites from 2022 are drinking beautifully now and over the next 5-7 years - they have that lovely ripe fruit with mineral backbone. For the Taurasi reds, while they're approachable now thanks to the ripe fruit, Aglianico really rewards patience - give them at least 5-8 years to fully develop, and the best ones will age for 15-20 years.
What food pairs well with Campania wines?▼
These wines are made for southern Italian cuisine - think rich tomato-based dishes, grilled meats, and aged cheeses. Taurasi Aglianico is perfect with braised lamb, wild boar, or aged Pecorino, while Fiano pairs beautifully with seafood, particularly the local Campanian dishes with shellfish and white fish. The mineral-driven whites also work great with buffalo mozzarella from the region.
How does Campania compare to other major wine regions?▼
Campania punches above its weight - it's producing some of Italy's most exciting wines but still flies under the radar compared to Tuscany or Piedmont. The volcanic soils give it a unique character you won't find elsewhere, and Aglianico rivals Nebbiolo for complexity and aging potential. It offers incredible value since it hasn't reached the price levels of more famous Italian regions yet.

Map data: vineyards.com, manually traced and edited