Campania

Explore one of the most evocative and historical regions of Italy in our Campania guide and discover the winemakers and wines in our Wine Club

Introduction & History of Campania

The name "Campania" is derived from Latin: Campania felix ("fertile countryside" or "happy countryside”). Surely most people are familiar with the 79 AD eruption of Mt. Vesuvius which decimated the surrounding area, including the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Large scale wineries were already well established by the Roman period, well evidenced by the finding of a 3rd century AD winery buried under the later eruption of Vesuvius in 472, which was capable of producing some couple hundred thousand bottles per year.

campania guide - remains of amphorae near Vesuvio

Being near the sea, this was a very important area for trade and movement of wine. The Campania region being linked with much volcanic soil which of course has proven to be an ideal soil type for making some of the most balanced and mineral driven wines.

Another wine which has made Campania so famous through the millennia is Falernum, which dates to more than 2000 years ago. This was the wine on the tables of the rich, said to be a gift from Bacchus himself, and considered to be the first ‘DOC’ if you will from the area of Falerno, rich in volcanic soil, on a hill of around 350m benefiting from the sea breezes. The varieties used to produce Falerno are Falanghina for the white wine and Primitivo, Aglianico and Piedirosso for the reds, which is still produced today.

Campania Guide - Cuisine

Driving from one corner to another, you can experience all realms of cuisine from the meats of the inner countryside to the abundance of fish from the sea. Campania is of course home to the famous buffalo mozzarella and the legendary invention of pizza named for Queen Margherita of Savoy in 1889, and is now the destination to eat the best 7 euro pizza that exists in the world (thank you Julia Roberts). Keep reading for our Campania guide recommendations on where to eat the best pizza.

The now staple dish outside of Italy - the Caprese salad - made with mozzarella, tomatoes and basil, was invented and named after the island of Capri (but that’s up for debate).

You’ll find Spaghetti con le vongole (spaghetti with clams) and pesce in acqua pazza, or fish in crazy water, on the Amalfi coast where locally caught fresh fish are simmered in water with garlic, tomatoes and parsley.

And the omnipresent lemons from the Amalfi coast, famously from Sorrento where they have PGI status, find their way into Limoncello, and a variety of dishes, drinks and decor in the area.

Naples is accessible from Rome in less than 90 minutes via high speed train. Getting around Naples and the local area is easy, but for remote locations we recommend renting a car.

Naples

"See Naples and die", as the famous expression says. The origins of this phrase are up for debate, but once it was quoted by the renowned poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, it became an unofficial motto for the city. Its meaning is simple; there is no place more beautiful than Naples, so once you have visited, you can die content.

Naples was originally an ancient trading Greek colony before being assimilated by ancient Rome. It wasn't however until long after the fall of the Roman empire that it came to prominence - it was nearby Capua that was the Roman capital of the region.

During the mid 19th century Naples was at its zenith - as the capital of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, it was one of the most important cities in the Mediterranean. Such prominence meant a constant influx of peoples which is now credited with cementing its unique mix of cultures and traditions, creating a truly unique identity.

While troubled throughout the 20th century by organized crime (and sadly into the 21st century, but less so) Neapolitans have retained their famously friendly and welcoming personality - you won't find a more hospitable people in Italy.

Restaurants to Visit in Naples

Of course you'd never visit Naples without having the famous pizza (or 6 during the weekend as we often do). Here are some of our favorites:

50 Kalò - some of the lightest dough we have ever tasted! You're already hungry again after you eat an entire pizza.
Pizzeria Da Michele - the famous pizzeria of Eat Pray Love, but honestly we noted the quality went slightly down, and you'll have a 2 hour wait.
Pizzeria Trianon - across the street from Da Michele with a 15 minute wait usually and nearly equally good!
Sorbillo Piccolina - for the famous fried pizza
Antica Pizzeria Di Matteo - if you're on Via dei Tribunali and you need a fast, cheap and delicious pizza on the fly.
Mimì alla Ferrovia - great restaurant in Naples near the station

Be sure to visit the Catacombs of San Gennaro - well curated by a group called Paranza. Great english spoken and absolutely stunning catacombs. There's an entire world to be discovered underground in Naples.

Campania

Explore one of the most evocative and historical regions of Italy in our Campania guide and discover the winemakers and wines in our Wine Club

Introduction & History of Campania

Campania Guide - Cuisine

Naples is accessible from Rome in less than 90 minutes via high speed train. Getting around Naples and the local area is easy, but for remote locations we recommend renting a car.

Restaurants to Visit in Naples

Looking for vineyards and wineries in Campania? Meet all of our wine makers from Campania here:

Wineries to Visit in Campania

Eating & Drinking

What to do & Where to visit

Where to stay

Love wines from Campania? We almost always include a couple in our Wine Club collections. Explore our Campania wine profiles from past and current Wine Club selections:

Want to drink some of the most curated artisan wines of Italy which often you can only find here, and get loads of information about the wine's story and how best to enjoy it? Join our wine club for this and more.