Fiano (grape)

: apes), which were strongly attracted to the sugary pulp of the grapes. Today, wine historians believe that the grape behind Apianum may have been Fiano. Ampelographers and wine historians consider Fiano a "classical vine" of southern Italy that likely has its origins in ancient Roman viticulture and perhaps may have even been cultivated by the ancient Greeks before them. Wine writer Jancis Robinson notes that some historians speculate that Fiano may have been the grape behind the Roman wine Apianum that was produced in the hills above Avellino. The wine was produced by a grape known to the Romans as vitis apiana, with the root of apiana being the Latin for bees. Even today bees are strongly attracted to sugary pulp of Fiano grapes and are a prevalent sight in the vineyards around Avellino. The small, thick-skinned berries of Fiano usually produce very little juice and, given the vines natural propensity for low yields, can make Fiano an unprofitable variety to grow. It was for reasons such as this that Fiano saw significant declines for most of the 19th and 20th century as growers uprooted the grape in favor of varieties like Trebbiano and Sangiovese that could yield larger amounts of wine. ==Wine regions==

The Fiano grape is most closely associated with the Campanian DOCG wine of Fiano di Avellino. Nearing extinction in the later half of the 20th century, interest in the variety, spearheaded by producers such as Mastroberardino, saw a renaissance of planting around Avellino. Some of the most notable plantings of Fiano are found in hazelnut plantations around Avellino with wine tasters such as Jancis Robinson noting that the wines produced from these grapes can have a slight hazelnut flavor to them. It is also grown in California and produced by Cruess and Starfield Vineyards from grapes in the Russian River Valley AVA and El Dorado AVA respectively, among other wineries. Other DOC wines The following is a list of DOC wines, beyond Fiano di Avellino, that include Fiano as a permitted grape variety, along with other grapes that may be included in the blend under varying percentages that are regulated under the DOC/G label. The wines of which Fiano must account for a majority of the blend are in bold. • Aversa DOC – primarily Asprinio, with up to 15% permitted to be Fiano and/or other local white grape varieties. • Campi Flegrei DOC – primarily Falanghina, Biancolella and Coda di Volpe with up to 30% permitted to be Fiano and/or other local white grape varieties. • Castel San Lorenzo DOC – primarily Trebbiano and Malvasia with up to 20% permitted to be Fiano and/or other local white grape varieties • Cilento DOC – must contain between 60 and 65% Fiano with 20-30% Trebbiano, 10-15% Greco and/or Malvasia and up to 10% of other local grape varieties. • Costa d'Amalfi DOC – primarily Falanghina and Biancolella with up to 40% permitted to be Fiano and/or other local white grape varieties. • Galluccio DOC – primarily Falanghina with up to 30% permitted to be Fiano and/or other local white grape varieties. • Guardiolo DOC – primarily Falanghina with up to 30% permitted to be Fiano and/or other local white grape varieties. • Ischia DOC – primarily Forastera, Biancolella and San Lunardo with up to 15% permitted to be Fiano and/or other local white grape varieties. • Locorotondo DOC – primarily Verdeca and Bianco d'Alessano with up to 5% permitted to be Fiano, Bombino bianco and/or Malvasia. • Martina Franca DOC – primarily Verdeca and Bianco d'Alessano with up to 5% permitted to be Fiano, Bombino bianco and/or Malvasia. • Monreale DOC – primarily Catarratto, Ansonica and Inzolia with up to 50% permitted to Fiano and/or other local white grape varieties. • Penisola Sorrentina DOC – primarily Falanghina, Biancolella and Greco with up to 40% permitted to be Fiano and/or other local white grape varieties. • Sannio DOC – primarily Trebbiano with up to 50% permitted to be Fiano, Samnium-Aglianico, Moscato, Coda di Volpe, Falanghina and Greco. • Sant'Ágata dei Goti DOC – primarily Falanghina and Greco with up to 20% permitted to be Fiano and/or other local white grape varieties. • Solopaca DOC – primarily Trebbiano, Malvasia, Coda di Volpe with up to 10% permitted to be Fiano and/or other local white grape varieties. • Taburno DOC – primarily Trebbiano and Falanghina with up to 30% permitted to be Fiano and/or other local white grape varieties. ==Wine styles==

According to Jancis Robinson, Fiano can produce an ageworthy wine that has the potential to develop in the bottle for several years after the vintage date. In its youth Fiano is often intensely flavored and aromatic with honey notes that over time develop more spicy and nutty notes. The advent of modern winemaking techniques with its emphasis on limiting oxidation and preserving freshness, have improved the overall quality of Fiano wines over the years. However, some producers that still practice more traditional winemaking techniques can still produce wines that come across as heavy and be prone to premature oxidation. The Italian wine Fiano di Avellino is often characterized as a pale straw colored wine with strong aromas of spice and floral notes. On the palate, those aroma notes are often present along with honey and nutty hazelnut notes. ==Synonyms==

Over the years Fiano and its wines have been known under various synonyms including Apiana, Apiano, Fiana, Fiano di Avellino, Fiore Mendillo, Foiano, Latina Bianca, Latina Bianca di Barletta, Latino, Latino Bianco, Minutola, Minutolo, and Santa Sofia. ==See also==