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Fiano is the ancient Italian white that Australia adopted and, frankly, is now doing as well as anyone. The Romans drank it around Naples two thousand years ago, it nearly disappeared in the twentieth century, and then Campania’s Mastroberardino family revived it in the hills of Avellino. Australian growers tasted it, noticed it loved heat and kept its acid, and planted it everywhere from the Riverland to the Hunter.
It is the white for people who find Sauvignon Blanc too shouty and Chardonnay too rich: textural, honeyed, nutty and fresh all at once, and just about the best thing you can pour with a plate of prawns or a piece of roast chicken.
Table of Contents
What Does Fiano Taste Like?
Pear, honeydew melon, white peach and citrus, with hazelnut, honey, orange blossom and a waxy, slightly oily texture. The acidity is moderate to fresh, the body medium, and the finish long and gently savoury. Aged Fiano from Avellino turns into something toasty and mineral that can rival serious Chardonnay.
| Aspect | Rating out of 5 | Characteristic |
|---|---|---|
| Sweetness | 🍷 | Dry, with honeyed fruit that fools the nose |
| Body | 🍷🍷🍷 | Medium, with a waxy, generous texture |
| Tannins | – | None; smooth as beeswax |
| Acidity | 🍷🍷🍷 | Fresh but not sharp, the diplomat of whites |
| Alcohol by Volume | 🍷🍷🍷 | Moderate, usually 12.5–13.5% |
Each wine glass icon is one point on a 5-point scale: one glass is low, five is high, based on the grape’s typical style.
Where It Grows
Campania in southern Italy is home, and Fiano di Avellino is the DOCG that made its name, from high, volcanic vineyards inland from Naples. Sicily grows a riper, fuller style, and small plantings exist in Puglia, Molise and Basilicata. Outside Italy, Australia is its most important second home.
Australia’s Fiano story is barely twenty years old and already a success. Coriole in McLaren Vale planted the first commercial vines in 2001, and it has since spread to the Riverland, the King Valley, the Barossa, the Hunter and Heathcote. Growers love it because it holds its acid in hot summers and needs less water than Chardonnay. Drinkers love it because it is delicious.
How to Serve It
Temperature: 8–10°C. Not too cold, or the texture and honey go quiet.
Glass: a medium white bowl; see the glasses roundup.
Decanting: not needed.
Ageing: most Australian Fiano is best within three years. Fiano di Avellino from top producers ages for five to ten, gaining toast, honey and smoke.
What to Eat With It
Grilled prawns, salmon, roast chicken, lemon chicken, creamy pasta like chicken alfredo, soft cheeses and anything with almonds or hazelnuts. Its texture handles richer food than most whites. More in the pairing guides.
Celebrated Wine Labels
| Wine Label | Country | Style |
|---|---|---|
| Mastroberardino | Italy | The family that saved Fiano, Avellino benchmark |
| Feudi di San Gregorio | Italy | Modern Campanian style, widely available |
| Ciro Picariello | Italy | Small-estate Fiano di Avellino, mineral and pure |
| Coriole | Australia | McLaren Vale, the Australian pioneer |
| Planeta | Italy | Sicilian Fiano, ripe and generous |
Drink One Tonight
Gapsted Buffalo King Valley Fiano 2023
An honest, well-priced Australian Fiano that shows exactly why growers fell for the grape. Chill it and point it at a seafood platter.
- Real Fiano from the King Valley, Australia's Italian-variety heartland
- Textural, honeyed and fresh, true to the grape
- Prawns, chicken and creamy pasta all work
- Barely over ten dollars for a genuine alternative white
- A simpler style than Fiano di Avellino; think lunch, not cellar
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Fiano wine similar to?
Somewhere between an unoaked Chardonnay and a Viognier, with the texture of the first and the perfume of the second. Vermentino and Soave are its nearest Italian cousins. Read our Vermentino guide for the comparison.
Is Fiano sweet or dry?
Dry. The honey and melon on the nose make people expect sweetness, but there is very little sugar in the glass.
How do you pronounce Fiano?
Fee-AH-no. Easy one.
Where does Fiano grow in Australia?
McLaren Vale started it, and the Riverland, the King Valley, the Barossa, the Hunter and Heathcote have all followed. It is one of the fastest-growing alternative whites in the country.
Why is Fiano called the bee grape?
The Romans called it “Vitis Apiana”, the vine of the bees, because the ripe grapes are so sweet and sticky that bees swarm them. The name Fiano is thought to descend from that.
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