Falanghina is a white grape variety from Campania, where its cultivation covers an area equal to 5% of the entire vineyard surface of the region. The areas with the highest vocation are Sannio Beneventano, Campi Flegrei, and the Caserta area. The Falanghina grape probably derives from ancient Greek-Balkan stocks and seems to owe its name to its expansive growth habit, for which it was traditionally tied to support poles called “falange,” hence Falanghina, meaning “vine supported by poles.” The Falanghina grape was almost abandoned over the centuries, but being one of the grape varieties not attacked by phylloxera, it has been revalued and is often grown on its own roots.
Falanghina represents the base grape for many prestigious wines of Campania, as evidenced by the single-variety types of the DOC wines Guardiolo, Sant’Agata dei Goti (also passito), Sannio, Solopaca, and Taburno. Falanghina is also used for the production of sparkling wines in the same denominations of origin. Falanghina is cultivated mainly in hilly areas characterized by a hot and very dry climate, and it is known for the size of its clusters, which are oblong or round, and the berries with thick and robust skin. Falanghina is predominantly grown on trellises with guyot pruning. The vinification of the grapes and the maturation of the wines mostly take place in steel containers rather than wood, to protect the aromatic freshness of the wines. The wine obtained from pure Falanghina presents a warm straw-yellow color with slight greenish reflections. On the nose, it shows light floral notes, fruity and mineral aromas, due to the volcanic origin of the cultivation soils. On the palate, the taste is soft, fresh, delicate, and endowed with excellent acidity. Falanghina is a perfect wine as an aperitif, but it pairs very well with appetizers, fish dishes, legume soups, seafood pasta, white meats, cheeses, and seasonal vegetables. Falanghina represents the base grape for many prestigious wines of Campania, as evidenced by the single-variety types of the DOC wines Guardiolo, Sant’Agata dei Goti (also passito), Sannio, Solopaca, and Taburno. Falanghina is also used for the production of sparkling wines in the same denominations of origin.
