Castello Monaci Acante Fiano Salento 2011 750ml

Winery: Castello Monaci

Varietal: Fiano

The Fiano grape is a truly ancient grape, which historians and archaeologists believe was one of the key grape varietals used in the production of a famous and much written about ancient Roman wine. There is also evidence to suggest it was cultivated by the ancient Greeks before them, making it one of the oldest grape varietals in the world. Whilst Fiano grapes are now grown successfully in Australia and elsewhere in the New World, their home remains in the region of Campania in Italy, where they thrive under the hot Mediterranean sunshine. The fruit is notable for its spicy character and strong floral aroma, and the fact that it produces wines which are a beautiful straw color It often holds flavors of dark honey and hazelnut, making it a fascinating and characterful varietal for wine production.

Region: Puglia

Puglia is one of Italy's most fascinating and 'up and coming' wine regions, and is full of traditional wineries keen to prove to the world that the produce of southern Italy can more than match that which comes from the central and northern regions of the country. Puglian wines are quite unique; they are generally big, bold and boisterous when it comes to flavor and structure, and are packed full of complex, dark and interesting notes, making them fascinating to taste and explore. Puglia itself is a beautiful wine region, and the volcanic soils and blazing sunshine of the Mediterranean coast is something of an ideal environment for viticulture. As such, Puglia is a region to keep a close eye on in the near future, should you wish to sample the best of Italy's latest, most exciting wines.

Country: Italy

There are few countries in the world with a viticultural history as long or as illustrious as that claimed by Italy. Grapes were first being grown and cultivated on Italian soil several thousand years ago by the Greeks and the Pheonicians, who named Italy 'Oenotria' – the land of wines – so impressed were they with the climate and the suitability of the soil for wine production. Of course, it was the rise of the Roman Empire which had the most lasting influence on wine production in Italy, and their influence can still be felt today, as much of the riches of the empire came about through their enthusiasm for producing wines and exporting it to neighbouring countries. Since those times, a vast amount of Italian land has remained primarily for vine cultivation, and thousands of wineries can be found throughout the entire length and breadth of this beautiful country, drenched in Mediterranean sunshine and benefiting from the excellent fertile soils found there. Italy remains very much a 'land of wines', and one could not imagine this country, its landscape and culture, without it.