Is Piemonte Going To Be The Next Hot Area?

[bmckenney]

@Mattias Hansen

@Tvrtko C.

While I love Fiano as much as anyone (and it can be absolutely stunning), I believe there are a handful of white wines elsewhere in Italy that are as good as (in some cases possibly better than) the best Fiano. Overall, though, Campania might just be Italy’s most interesting white wine region from my perspective.

I would love to learn more about campanian whites, an area where i am a complete novice. Can you recommend specific producers and vintages for someone wanting to learn more about this region?

Me too. When I hear about a new wine area or grape I like to turn to NYT and Eric Asimov. I just Google the wine topic and add in “NYT” to the search text string and I usually get a good start.

Here is a link to one of white varietals from Campania. Fiano. As mentioned above. And note that the listing of wines tasted on the left side of the webpage is wine that is at least exported so it should be easy to find at least one or two of them easily.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/25/dining/reviews/fiano-enjoys-a-renaissance-wines-of-the-times.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

I know Eric has other NYT articles on other wines from Campania so this is just a start.

[Bill_Boykin]

@John Webber

@Thomas Keim

@Kelly Walker

For many of the reasons cited above there is no current momentum nor any idividual, short of a rapper God forbid, that is creating the spark.

Actually Kelly, if you think about it - Barolo would be a pretty cool word to rhyme with… just think about the possibilities…

I think we may be too late…

No doubt…Waaay too late.

[Roberto_Rogness]

Torricino di Stefano di Marzo and Struzzieri make astounding whites. Also Mustilli…

[Bill_Boykin]

Not to mention 2012 Masseria Li Veli Verdeca Askos from Puglia.
Lovely,lovely!

[Tvrtko_C]

@Mattias Hansen

I would love to learn more about campanian whites, an area where i am a complete novice. Can you recommend specific producers and vintages for someone wanting to learn more about this region?

There is a lot to explore there. If I were you, I would try and sample some of the less well-known, fresh, thirst-quenching wines and styles such as Asprinio d’Aversa, Coda di Volpe and Falanghina (I Barboni, Grotta del Sole, Mustilli, Fontanavecchia, Terredora di Paolo). I would definitely check out some wines from Ischia (the “simpler” Biancolella and Forastera bottlings by Mazzella and Casa d’Ambra, as well as Casa d’Ambra’s Vigneto Frassitelli, one of the reference wines, if not THE reference wine, for a beautifully vertical and elegant, complex, mineral-driven style). I would then move on to the various Greco di Tufo and Fiano wines (Pietracupa, Torricino, di Prisco, Benito Ferrara, Fratelli Urciolo, Ciro Picariello, Villa Diamante, Vadiaperti, Guido Marsella, Struzziero…). Once I’ve done all that, I would try to get hold of a bottle of Marisa Cuomo’s great and unique Fior d’Uva with some age on it (the 06 would be great now, with some decanting, probably better on Day 2) for a sense of closure
It’s a personal take, needless to say, and I’m sure that I’ve inadvertently left out many excellent producers , but this should at least stand you in good stead.

[Mattias_Hansen]

Cernos, and Bryan, many thanks for the advice

[Frank_Drew]

@Thomas Keim

This is like calling the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees the next up and coming baseball franchises in MLB -

THE REAL NEXT HOT AREAS: Alto Adige, Baden, Roussillon, The Finger Lakes, Ribera del Duero and Chile’s coastal Pinot Noir sites -

Alto Adige for sure, if people like crisp, clean, very well-made wines, particularly white wines.