The white grape varietal Fiano is quickly gaining traction as one of the most exciting white wines being made in Australia. If you’ve been exploring the world of white wines beyond the usual suspects of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, you may have encountered Fiano wine. This ancient Italian grape variety, hailing from the Campania region of Southern Italy, has quietly established itself as one of Australia’s most promising white wine styles, particularly in the McLaren Vale region, where it’s creating waves among wine enthusiasts and critics alike.

Our Winemaker Corrina Wright is often known as ‘The Queen of Fiano’ and, having won the Best Fiano at the 2024 McLaren Vale Wine Show, knows a thing or two about crafting a delicious drop. We’ve been growing Fiano in our McLaren Vale vineyards since 2004, and now produce three different styles, ranging from still to sparkling options. Read on to discover all that you need to know about the world of Fiano. 

What Does Fiano Wine Taste Like? 

Fiano wine offers a distinctly different profile from other white wines, making it an exciting discovery for adventurous wine drinkers. The grape produces wines that are characteristically full-bodied and strongly flavoured, with what wine experts describe as a “weighty” mouthfeel that sets it apart from lighter white varieties. The primary flavour profile includes: 

• Aromatics: Intense honeyed and floral notes with distinctive spice elements 

• Fruit Flavours: Fresh pear, tropical pineapple, and citrus 

• Texture: Rich, waxy, and substantial with good weight 

• Finish: Often displays characteristic hazelnut and nutty overtones 

The key flavours you can often identify include:

What makes Fiano particularly appealing to winemakers and consumers is its versatility. Depending on winemaking techniques, Fiano can range from crisp and mineral-driven wines to more textural, oak-influenced styles. The grape naturally retains good acidity even in warmer climates, providing structure and freshness that balances its inherent richness. It is naturally high in acid, with lots of textural phenolics from the thick skins of the grapes. 

What is Fiano Wine Similar To?

When drawing parallels to other varietals, Fiano shares characteristics with unoaked Chardonnay that leans toward the off-dry spectrum, displaying similar medium acidity alongside notes of tropical fruits and lemon. Its distinctive waxy mouthfeel echoes that of Semillon, while certain Pinot Grigio expressions mirror Fiano’s honeyed pear characteristics. 

The Ancient Origins of Fiano Wine

Fiano boasts a remarkable pedigree that stretches back to ancient Rome. This white Italian wine grape variety originates from the Campania region of southern Italy, where it has been cultivated for centuries. Historical wine researchers believe Fiano may have been the grape behind the legendary Roman wine called Apianum, a connection so significant that the name still appears on labels of the prestigious Fiano di Avellino DOCG wines today. 

In its homeland around Avellino, near Naples, Fiano has earned Protected Designation of Origin status, cementing its reputation as one of Italy’s most distinguished white wine grapes. The grape’s name itself is thought to derive from the Latin “vitis apiana,” meaning “vine loved by bees,” highlighting the grape’s naturally aromatic qualities that have attracted both bees and wine lovers for millennia. Whilst some of the history has been lost in time, it’s no doubt a very old grape varietal. 

Since the 1970s Fiano has seen a renewed focus, particularly having been revived by the late Antonio Mastroberadino (along with Greco, Falanghina and Aglianico) as an important indigenous varietal for the region with a focus on quality rather than quantity. The revival culminated in 2003 when the Fiano DOC was created, giving the wines official recognition. Antonio’s son Piero now champions the varietal within this important region.  

Fiano’s Journey to Australia

While Fiano remained relatively unknown outside Italy for centuries, Australian winemakers began experimenting with the variety in the early 2000s. Like other alternative varietals, Chalmers was one of the early pioneers.  

Australian winemakers soon saw the charm, noting that it produces perfectly balanced fruit with little fuss in the vineyard, is drought tolerant and more resistant to disease. The naturally high acidity also means that less intervention is needed in the winery.  

We now see Fiano grown across Australia, with examples coming from the Granite Belt, the Hunter Valley, Alpine Valleys, Victoria and even parcels coming from Margaret River. We’ve found that Fiano has found a real home in McLaren Vale, with several forward-thinking winemakers recognising the grape’s potential in the region’s Mediterranean-style climate. 

Our winemaker Corrina Wright, is President of the Australian Alternative Variety Wine Show (AAVWS) and she’s loved seeing the growth of this wine, with around 50-55 different Fiano producers entering to make one of the biggest classes of varietals (after Vermentino) at the show. 

You can find some exceptional examples made by Hesketh, Billy Button, Marnong Estate, Chalmers, Tyrrells, Unico Zelo, Ricca Terra, just to name a few. 

Why McLaren Vale is Perfect for Fiano Wine

McLaren Vale’s unique terroir has proven exceptionally well-suited to Fiano cultivation. Located just 45 minutes south of Adelaide, the region benefits from a Mediterranean climate with warm summers and mild winters, closely mirroring the conditions of Fiano’s Italian homeland. 

Today, Fiano has become McLaren Vale’s third-most widely planted white grape variety, with approximately 76 hectares (up from 48ha pre-2022) under vine. This growth reflects both the grape’s adaptation to Australian conditions and increasing consumer appreciation for its unique character. 

Australian Fiano has developed its own distinct style while honouring the grape’s Italian heritage. Local winemakers have embraced Fiano’s versatility, producing everything from vibrant, early-drinking styles to more complex, age-worthy wines that showcase the grape’s potential for development. Check out some of the examples from Coriole,  S.C. Pannell, Chalk Hill, D’Arenberg and Zerella.

Key Factors Supporting Fiano in McLaren Vale: 

• Climate: The coastal influence from Gulf St Vincent provides cooling breezes that help preserve the natural acidity that makes Fiano special. This maritime influence ensures the grapes retain freshness while achieving full flavour development. 

• Soils: The diverse soil types across McLaren Vale, from ancient sands to red clay over limestone, provide the mineral complexity that translates beautifully into Fiano’s characteristic textural weight and depth. 

• Elevation: Many McLaren Vale vineyards benefit from elevation and aspect, creating ideal growing conditions that allow Fiano to develop its signature honeyed aromatics while maintaining crisp acidity. 

Fiano Wine Styles and Winemaking

Australian Fiano producers employ various winemaking techniques to highlight different aspects of the grape’s personality.  

• Fresh and Aromatic: Many producers ferment Fiano in stainless steel to preserve its intense aromatics and natural fruit flavours. These wines are typically released young and showcase Fiano’s honeyed, floral character. 

• Textural and Complex Some winemakers use techniques like lees contact, barrel fermentation, or partial oak aging to enhance Fiano’s naturally rich texture. You can also develop complexity using a natural ferment in concrete/ terracotta eggs to add texture. These wines can develop beautifully over 5-10 years, gaining nutty, spicy complexity. 

• Skin Contact: A growing number of producers experiment with brief skin contact to add texture and depth, creating wines that bridge the gap between white and orange wine styles. 

• Sparkling: Fiano is also a great grape to make sparkling wine. We’re super proud to hear the Queen of Sparkling, Kate Laurie mention that the Hunt for Mrs Oliver Sparkling was the most awarded non-traditional varietal sparkling wine in Australia when she made reference to it at a Sparkling Conference in 2024. 

What foods do you pair with Fiano Wine?

Fiano’s substantial body and complex flavour profile make it an excellent food wine. Its natural richness and good acidity create versatile pairing opportunities: 

• Seafood: The wine’s weight makes it perfect for grilled fish, seafood risotto, or shellfish dishes with cream-based sauces. 

• Poultry: Roasted chicken, turkey, or duck pair beautifully with Fiano’s honeyed characteristics. 

• Cheese: Semi-hard cheeses, particularly those with nutty flavours, complement Fiano’s natural hazelnut notes. 

• Vegetables: Roasted vegetables, particularly those with caramelised edges, work wonderfully with Fiano’s rich texture.  

Discover Oliver’s Taranga Fiano  

While McLaren Vale has established itself as Australia’s premier Fiano region, not all expressions are created equal. The finest Australian Fiano wines demonstrate a perfect balance between the grape’s Italian heritage and Australian terroir, creating wines that are both immediately appealing and capable of development. 

Oliver’s Taranga has been at the forefront of McLaren Vale’s Fiano revolution, having grown Fiano since 2004, and releasing our first vintage in 2006. With 100 ha of premium grapevines on the Taranga property, the Oliver family has over 50 blocks representing different grape varieties, clones, soil types & vine ages. We now have 5 blocks, some of the VCR3 clone from Chalmers and others the SAVII01. We love this varietal and being an early pioneer is largely why Corrina is so affectionately known as the Queen of Fiano. 

Through careful vineyard management and thoughtful winemaking, we’ve created a range of different Fiano wines that captures the grape’s essential character while expressing the unique qualities of the McLaren Vale terroir. We’re super proud that our 2024 Fiano was awarded the Trophy for Best Fiano at the 2024 McLaren Vale Wine Show.  

Get to know Oliver’s Fiano Wine Range

Oliver’s Taranga now make four different wines out of Fiano: 

• Oliver’s Taranga Fiano  

Our winemaker Corrina Wright is known in the wine business as the Queen of Fiano for good reason!

Prepare your palate for a textural journey with this Fiano. One minute it’s all pine nuts and cashew, the next it’s kaffir lime and fresh basil with a touch of the tropics. Drink with anything spicy, or just to spice up your life.

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• Anfore Fiano  

Our Queen of Fiano has done it again with her passion project – Anfore Fiano. Italian for amphorae, Anfore refers to our beloved Fiano aged in terracotta clay vessels. This is a very small volume Fiano that leads to an exciting discovery of the delicious, textural versatility of this Italian varietal.

Inspired by her trip to Campania in November 2022 and the incredibly textural wines she tasted, Corrina wanted to experiment with ageing Fiano on lees for longer than current market demand has allowed! The best batch of Fiano is put in three 300L TAVA terracotta anfore.

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• The Hunt for Mrs Oliver Sparkling Fiano

Our winemaker Corrina has long been enamored by Champagne, so decided to try her hand at making a traditional method sparkling from Fiano grown on the Taranga vineyard.

Methode Traditionelle means that the wine is bottle fermented, so that the bubbles are all created by yeast in the bottle during a secondary fermentation. Corrina worked with renowned SA sparkling winemaker, Kate Laurie from Deviation Road Wines. Fiano is not a traditional sparkling variety, but it has a very high natural acidity which is key for sparkling winemaking and is often made into sparkling wines in its traditional home of Campania, Italy. With more than 24 months on yeast lees, this wine was handmade in very small quantities and we hope you enjoy sharing it with your friends as much as we did making it.

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• The Hunt for Mrs Oliver Sparkling Fiano Late Disgorged  

The Hunt for Mrs Oliver has been a passion project for our winemaker Corrina since 2016. Fuelled by her love of Champagne styles, the glorious Fiano varietal and its suitability to McLaren Vale, as well as some inspiring visits to the home of Fiano in Campania, Italy. Corrina teamed up with fizz making legend, Kate Laurie of Deviation Road wines to go on quite the adventure. The aim- to make a premium traditional method sparkling from Fiano.

Méthode Traditionelle means that the wine is bottle fermented, so that the bubbles are all created by yeast in the bottle during a secondary fermentation. Fiano is not a traditional sparkling variety, like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, but it has a very high natural acidity which is key for sparkling winemaking.

Thankfully, Corrina also had the foresight to leave (or maybe hide!) a tiny number of bottles, sitting quietly on yeast lees, just to see what would happen. Time on yeast lees builds complexity and flavour in what was already a much sought after wine, while still maintaining bursting freshness.

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Why Fiano Deserves Your Attention

In a wine world often dominated by familiar varieties, Fiano offers something special – a chance to discover a grape with ancient roots and modern relevance. Whether you’re a seasoned wine enthusiast seeking your next favourite variety or someone just beginning to explore beyond classic whites like Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, Fiano is the perfect drop to drink and discover.  

As Australian Fiano continues to gain recognition both domestically and internationally, now is the perfect time to discover what makes this ancient Italian variety so compelling in its Australian home. From its honeyed aromatics to its substantial texture and food-friendly nature, Fiano represents everything that makes wine exploration rewarding.    

Cheers,  Corrina, Brioni, Sam & the OT Team