Fosso Degli Angeli “Chiusa”

Sannio Fiano, italy  |  2021

The fertile soils of Campania, in southern Italy, have been highly prized since the days of the ancient Greeks. While Campania is famous for its agricultural products, such as San Marzano tomatoes and mozzarella di bufala, the notoriety of its wines isn’t what it deserves to be.

We love championing these types of unheralded regions. So much so that I made it a priority in my 2022 travels to go to Campania, visiting a wide range of producers, all in an attempt to find out what really is going on in the region.

One of the highlight of my trips was my visit with Marenza Pengue of Fosso degli Angeli, in the Sannio Beneventano. Along with her sister Dina and brother in-law Pasquale, they farm 7 hectares of vineyards and 10 hectares of olives. The vineyards are mostly on calcareous clay soils at an average height of about 450 meters above sea level. The family has been farming for three generations, although they did not start producing their own wines until 2009. They proudly farm organically, and in the small winery they work with natural yeast and low levels of sulphur dioxide.

Fosso degli Angeli produces all three of the classic white grape varieties of the region: Greco, Falanghina, and our focus today, Fiano. Fiano is most well known from the DOCG of Fiano d'Avellino, but I absolutely love Fiano from Sannio. Just like Avellino, there is clay in the soil in Sannio, but overall I find Fiano in the hands of a master like Fosso degli Angeli to be elegant and fresh. 

The 2021 “Chiusa” has beautiful aromas of citrus, almond, mango and flowers. Medium weight, with notes of stone fruit citrus oil, and mineral on the palate. With great length and freshness, this would complement to a wide range of seafood, including a whole grilled turbot. 

Only 2,600 bottles were produced of this delicious wine!