Know Your Variety - Australian Fiano

Adam Walls teaches us the finer points about Australian Fiano and why it could be Australia's next big white wine.

When Coriole in McLaren Vale released Australia’s first Fiano in 2005, it signalled an exciting evolution for white wine lovers, myself included.

This Italian white thrives in hot, dry climates, making it perfect for many Australian wine regions. This ability to handle the increasing heat spikes we’re experiencing during vintage makes it a very environmentally friendly variety as its need for water is low.

What’s more, Fiano retains its acidity in the heat. So while other whites like Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay often lose their acidity when the temperature rises, Fiano can be made into a beautifully balanced, refreshing wine.

Fiano at a Glance

Australian Fiano

Origins of Fiano

In its Italian home, Fiano is mainly grown in the hills surrounding Avellino in the Campania region. It has been traced back to ancient Rome and is thought to have been the primary variety in Apianum, an ancient Roman wine, meaning ‘bees’ in Latin. Even today, swarms of bees are drawn to the sugary pulp of Fiano grapes in Avellinese vineyards.

Australian Fiano Regions

As I mentioned, Fiano grows best in our warmer regions and has had great success in McLaren Vale and Clare Valley. But what I’m really excited about are the wins that have been had with the variety in the Riverland and Riverina regions. While these are regions traditionally famous for producing cheap, bulk wines, Fiano has given local winemakers a chance to show they can make exciting, cutting-edge wines.

Characters

At the Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show, Fiano is divided into two classes: light and fresh, and full-bodied and textural.

The stye in which it is made is determined by the winemaker. For example, if a winemaker decides to pick the grapes later in the season and/or uses lees during fermentation, their Fiano will be a richer, more textured style.

Fiano Food Matching

Given that Fiano hails from a region that is coastal bound, it makes sense it is a wine that works well with seafood – baked fish, shellfish, etc. It’s perfect with vegetarian pasta dishes, too, as the acidity in the wine offsets the richness of cream-based sauces and complements the acidity of tomato-based recipes.