This textural white wine is a team favourite – and around here, good taste doesn’t go to waste.

When you discover something truly great, when you know you’re onto a good thing, you simply cannot stop telling people about it. Lately, fiano has been the thing we can’t shut up about. While many are already major fiano fans, this white varietal is still lesser known on the Australian wine scene, and there’s nothing more fun than finding a new favourite.

While fiano grapes have been grown in Australia since the early 2000s, the mountainous Italian region of Campania is its original home. Rumour has it that fianos have been made there for centuries. Like, a lot of centuries. The story goes that the Ancient Romans produced it and consumed it, originally naming the wine ‘apianum’ after the bees drawn to the grape’s sweetness. With fiano, it’s a case of everything old is new again, and we’re 100% on board.

What does fiano taste like?

Fianos can vary from zesty and bright to rich and ripe. What ties most fianos together, though, is a wonderful textural nature, a little hint of floral notes, and some delightful nuttiness. Expect flavours ranging from lemon and grapefruit, right through to pear and apricot, depending on the style.

Below, we share five bottlings of the golden-hued drop we know you’re going to want to try, whether it’s your first fiano foray, or you’re in the midst of a fully fledged fiano fling.

Feudi di Gregorio Fiano di Avellino bottle and glasses

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1. The native: Feudi di Gregorio Fiano di Avellino

The most famous and prestigious of the fiano varietal, Fiano di Avellino is a Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) in Italy, a label that marks that wine is of the highest quality and made with adherence to strict production standards. Feudi di Gregorio Fiano di Avellino is a celebration of the traditional Mediterranean flavours having a well-deserved renaissance. Fiano itself has survived due to the local custodians forgoing higher yield grapes (like sangiovese or nebbiolo) in favour of the region’s indigenous plant. Something you’ll be mighty thankful for sip after sip.

2. The pioneer: Chalmers Heathcote Fiano

The top-tier Fiano di Avellino wines must be made from a minimum of 85% fiano grapes, with the remaining 15% allowed to be local white grape varieties, but this Victorian incarnation, Chalmers Heathcote Fiano, is 100% fiano. Ooh la la. It’s also 100% fantastic. Balanced and textured with grassy and buttery flavours, it’s a standout. The Chalmers family was the first to bring fiano grapes to Australia. They liked it for the climate compatibility – their own vineyard sitting 150 metres above sea level – and loved it for the result. They’re also responsible for convincing other Australian vineyards to embrace the Italian fruit. It’s that good.

Chalmers Heathcote Fiano bottle and in a glass

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Sherrah Skin Party Fiano bottle and glasses

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3. The great experiment: Sherrah Skin Party Fiano

The warm climate and Mediterranean-like conditions in McLaren Vale provide an ideal environment for fiano grapes to flourish. This is why three of the five bottles on this list hail from there. Sherrah Skin Party Fiano is medium bodied and dry with a lot of depth. The method for this wine is creative to say the least. First, the grapes are wild fermented, then open-fermented in shallow vats, then overseeded with a fragrant cultured yeast before finally being matured in used hogsheads (a type of barrel, not an animal’s head) for four months. Phew! A bold, complex and unconventional experiment in winemaking that has really paid off, this is a crisp and clean, straw-yellow and delicious, one-of-a-kind wine.

4. The fine curation: Kangarilla Road McLaren Vale Fiano

Kangarilla Road McLaren Vale Fiano is a great Australian example, showcasing the zesty citrus notes, fruit flavours and noticeable mineral character of the varietal. Kangarilla Road is light, delicate and modern. There’s hints of honeydew, citrus blossom and native kaffir lime, and this intricate palate is delivered with the classic fiano texture. It’s a great match for oysters, prawns and other seafood, or an amazing chicken salad. Side of fries? Always, yes!

5. The innovator: S.C Pannell Fi Fi Fiano

Stephen Pannell is one of our finest and most imaginative winemakers. He’s won multiple awards and is largely thought of as one of the greatest Australian winemakers of our time. He creates with the dinner table in mind, and has a way with Mediterranean varietals. Fans were waiting with bated breath for him to drop a fiano and, no surprises, it’s exceptional. S.C Pannell Fi Fi Fiano is no-fuss, juicy deliciousness. With notes of frangipani, lemon, nectarine and lime on a waxy texture, it’s a masterful drop (made by a master) that will make you go “yum”.