The prestigious international magazine Decanter highlights Campania in its special issue Italy 2025. In the feature written by James Button, dedicated to some of the region’s lesser-known but most exciting wine areas, the volcanic territories of the Campi Flegrei and their distinctive grape varieties take centre stage.
Among the wineries mentioned is Cantine Astroni, with a spotlight on Vigna Astroni Falanghina Campi Flegrei 2020, selected as one of the wines that best represent the mineral and volcanic identity of Campania.
The article explores how the region’s volcanic soils, crater-shaped landscapes and ancient history contribute to wines with remarkable personality, energy and sense of place.
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Another Campania
In a region shaped by its volcanic heritage, a few big names dominate the wine scene, yet Campania has much more to offer in terms of grapes and wine styles that can only be found here.
One of the key varieties is Piedirosso, a late-ripening red grape widely grown in Vesuvio and Campi Flegrei. With its small bunches, it can be demanding in the vineyard, but when carefully handled it produces beautifully light, fragrant and elegant red wines marked by energy, balance and transparency.
Another central variety is Falanghina, one of the most important white grapes of the region. Campi Flegrei is a volcanic DOC, a vast caldera made up of more than twenty craters stretching from the western outskirts of Naples into the Gulf of Naples.
The volcanic yellow tuff and sandy soils are mainly planted with Falanghina and Piedirosso. The name Falanghina is thought to derive from phalanga, the ancient Greek term for the poles used to train the vine’s vigorous shoots.
Today two main biotypes are recognised:
• Falanghina Flegrea, grown in the volcanic soils of Campi Flegrei
• Falanghina Beneventana, from the alluvial soils of the Sannio area
Falanghina from Campi Flegrei stands out for its savoury, mineral and vibrant character, perfectly reflecting its volcanic terroir.
Among the wines featured in the selection Lesser-known Campania in 12 wines is:
Astroni – Vigna Astroni Falanghina, Campi Flegrei 2020 – 91 points
Produced on the outer slopes of the Astroni crater, just west of Naples, this wine comes from about 1.5 hectares of terraced vineyards planted with Falanghina Flegrea.
The wine shows flinty and smoky notes, with strong mineral depth and subtle tropical fruit. The palate is energetic, vertical and vibrant, a clear expression of its volcanic origin.
Decanter also encourages readers to look out for Astroni’s Tenuta Jossa amphora-aged Falanghina project, another exciting expression of the estate.
