From: Campania, Italy
Varietal: Fiano
Taste: In the glass, the wine offers an enticing array of aromas, with notes of white peach, yellow apple, lemon zest, and freshly squeezed tangerine. There are also underlying hints of minerality, with touches of wet stone and sea salt adding complexity to the bouquet. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied with a distinct texture reminiscent of peach skin, and refreshing acidity. There is an immediate burst of citrusy stone fruits and sea spray. These bright, zesty flavors are balanced by a subtle nuttiness, with flavors of toasted almonds and hazelnuts adding depth to the mid-palate. As the wine opens up, there are also hints of ripe pear and apricot, as well as a touch of white flowers and honeycomb. The finish is clean and lingering, with a refreshing acidity that keeps the wine lively and bright.
Pairing: The bright acidity and refreshing flavors of the 2020 Zampaglione Fiano Campania 'Don Chisciotte' make it a versatile pairing for a wide range of dishes. It pairs well with seafood, particularly shellfish like oysters, shrimp, and scallops, as well as lighter fish dishes like grilled or roasted white fish. It would also complement pasta dishes, salads, and vegetable sides. We’re sharing a classic pasta recipe below, but please check out Sam Sifton’s recipe for this amazingly unique American dish, Clam-Chowder Pizza, that’ll be amazing next to this wine.
Regional Specialties: As a wine from the Campania region in southern Italy, the 2020 Zampaglione Fiano Campania 'Don Chisciotte' would be a perfect pairing for local specialties. One classic pairing would be with Spaghetti alle Vongole, a dish of spaghetti with clams in a garlic and white wine sauce (check it out below!). It would also pair well with other seafood dishes like Grilled Octopus with Lemon and Olive Oil, or Fried Smelts with Lemon and Parsley.
Vegetarian Options: For vegetarian options, the 2020 Zampaglione Fiano Campania 'Don Chisciotte' would pair well with a wide range of vegetable dishes. It would be an excellent match for light and refreshing salads, particularly those with citrus flavors like grapefruit or orange, or when in season, pair with any dish that includes fresh or grilled stone fruit. It would also pair well with roasted vegetables, particularly those with a touch of sweetness like roasted butternut squash or caramelized onions. Finally, it would be an excellent pairing for vegetarian pasta dishes, particularly those with a light cream sauce and herbs like parsley or basil.
Spaghetti Vongole
By Molly O’Neill
About. At a glance. Pierluigi Zampaglione's only wine, Don Chisciotte, is created from the small Fiano vineyard planted among the family's organic grains and vegetables on the high plain of Irpinia. This pale skin-contact wine sees up to 10 days of maceration before aging in stainless steel with zero sulphur added.
About the family. Nerina and Pierluigi started this adventure of extreme growing of natural products in 1977 with grains and tomatoes. In 202, they also planted the Fiano variety in these black volcanic soils. In 2020, their daughter Rita came back from home
to start to work with them, and tilt at the windmills of this extreme - wind howling - growing area.*
And they’ll need her help. This orange Fiano, grown on Alta Irpiania’s high plains, is pushing the limits at 800 meters / c. 2600 ft!. We know of no other Campanian producer making such a high-wire Fiano. Edgy, grippy, mountain herbs, and a wonderfully complex texture from the acidity and the 10 maceration on the skins.
* Tilting is jousting with an imagined enemy. The expression derives from Cervantes' Don Quixote.’ Don Chisciotte is the Italian spelling of Don Quixote, the literary figure that encapsulated how they felt using old-work natural techniques, while gazing on the newly constructed wind turbines.
