I hadn't heard of Fiano, until Iain the founder of Wine SMS introduced me to it about 6 months ago. We've put a link to an article, published in The Riot Act, which sums the growing popularity in this Italian grape.
The full article can be found here, which was written by food and wine writer Jane Adams. The excerpt below sums what this wine is all about, being an Italian grape grown in the surrounds of Naples. Jane sums up the reasons it is becoming more popular with growers and winemakers.
The glasses were clinking in the Whisky Lounge at Jugiong’s Sir George Hotel but they were not malt-filled tumblers. Instead, this atmospheric setting was the venue for a recent wine industry seminar focused on the latest buzz alternative white grape variety – fiano (pronounced fee-ah-noh).
A native of Campania, a region near Naples in southern Italy (where it is formally known as Fiano d’Avellino), this versatile white grape was originally imported and planted in 1985 by Mark Lloyd at Coriole, McLaren Vale in South Australia.
Today there are over 100 Australian producers, including several in the Canberra, Hilltops and Gundagai wine regions.
This fuller flavoured and versatile white wine may not yet be on everyone’s lips (or in fridges), but if the enthusiasm of regional NSW winemakers is any guide, it will be very soon. In fact, one day it might even rival pinot gris.
Seminar organiser Alex McKay of Collector Wines (ACT) sources his fiano grapes from the cool, elevated NSW Hilltops region.
“Fiano is a versatile and malleable white variety that many winemakers are considering, especially given changes in our climate. I think the Hilltops is just the right spot for it, considering the district’s cooler continental weather and elevated vineyards (of around 600 metres), and deeper loam soils,” says Alex, whose first Collector Fiano was made in 2018.
“It may not matter to wine lovers, but winemakers and grape growers are also attracted by the viticultural durability of fiano. It typically delivers moderate yields, retains acid and can create a range of enticing wine styles.”
That versatility was evident at the comparative tasting, with winemakers commenting on the array of styles ranging from racy aromatic crisp styles (think ripe pears) to fuller, more textural expressions (think honeysuckle and straw).
If you'd like to try Fiano, we represent Jericho Wines Fiano variety and on a personal level, I will be drinking plenty this over the years to come. You can find it on sale in our Build a Box section of the website which has a current 20% off, along with other wines to sample.