Campania
The major wines of Campania are
Falanghina (a fresh, easygoing white),
Aglianico (a full-bodied red made from the local grape variety),
Piedirosso (a simple but tasty red wine), and
Lacrima Christi ("tears of Christ", much of it made near Vesuvius). Among the best wineries are
Casa d'Ambra (on Ischia) and
Feudi di San Gregorio (in Irpina, about an hour east of Naples). Also recommended:
Cantina del Mare in Bacoli (near Monte di Procida), where Pasquale Massa makes some fantastic Falanghina (
review in Italian).
Elsewhere in Italy
Among the most famous wines of Italy are
Brunello (from Montalcino, Tuscany) and
Barolo (from Cuneo, Piedmont). For more information about Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino, take a look at the
Montalcino travel section. Other well-known varieties are
Chianti (from a large area of Tuscany),
Sagratino (Umbria's answer to Brunello), and
Montepulciano (from the eponomous town in Tuscany). Also recommended: Amarone della Valpolicella (from Vernona), a robust, full-bodied red and Nero d'Avola (from Sicily), a dark, robust wine from Sicily. Moio del Massico - another recommended southern Italian wine.
Apellations
Wines in Italy can have VDT, IGT, DOC, and DOCG "apellations"; see the
Wikipedia Italian wine page for a good explanation.
