VinItaly 2026: discovering some of the Campanian excellences showcased at the fair

From April 12 to 15, 2026, Verona will host the 58th edition of Italy’s most important wine fair: VinItaly 2026.

And when we talk about wine, we cannot overlook a region where viticulture boasts a millennia‑old history and a harmonious bond between nature and human craftsmanship: Campania.

Here, wine is not simply produced — it is bottled history, fragments of ancient traditions that had already brought viticulture to splendor in Roman times, when wines were exported beyond the Italian peninsula. With VinItaly 2026 just around the corner, Verona is ready to welcome once again the region’s finest producers, from Irpinia to the Aversano countryside, from the Sorrento Peninsula to the Vesuvian slopes.

We met four outstanding Campanian wineries that will be protagonists in Verona: we will exchange some words with Mariapina Fontana (Tenuta Fontana), Gaetano Sepe (Altavigna), Giuseppe Tizzano (Cantina Tizzano) and Gilda Iovine (Antiche Radici), who gave us a preview of what they will be pouring into glasses from all over the world.

Mariapina, your family has recovered and enhanced the Alberata aversana, a true agricultural heritage of a land you have cultivated for over a century. How important is it for you to bring to VinItaly such an iconic example of heroic viticulture, so deeply tied to Campania’s identity?

For us, bringing the Alberata aversana to VinItaly means telling a family and territorial story that has lasted for over a century. It is not just a cultivation technique — it is a cultural heritage representing the resilience and vision of our ancestors, who transformed the vine into a symbol of identity and continuity.

The Alberata is an extraordinary example of heroic viticulture: vines climbing over ten meters high, requiring skill, sacrifice and deep respect for nature. Recovering and enhancing it means preserving ancient knowledge and proving that tradition and innovation can coexist, offering wines that express authenticity, character and a strong sense of place.

Presenting it at VinItaly is a great source of pride: it is an opportunity to share with the world a lesser‑known but incredibly rich side of Campania — full of history, beauty and uniqueness — and to give voice to a viticulture that deserves recognition and transmission to future generations.

Gaetano, Altavigna’s wines “tell a territory,” Irpinia — a land of great contrasts and enormous potential. What message or emotion do you hope to convey to those who will taste your labels at the fair this year?

Our mission is to produce fine wines that are a pure expression of the territory. Our presence at VinItaly is certainly aimed at strengthening existing relationships and conveying to new international partners our production philosophy, which is deeply rooted in the heritage entrusted to us — a heritage grounded in the history and tradition of viticulture.

Giuseppe, Cantina Tizzano operates in the heart of the Vesuvius National Park, where volcanic soils are rich in minerality. How does this “energy of the land” translate into the new vintages you will unveil in Verona?

The soil where we grow our grapes — on Vesuvius, at the foot of Mount Somma — gives our wines unique characteristics: a sensation of freshness on the palate and notes of fruit, flowers and spices.

It is a volcanic soil rich in minerals such as potassium, calcium and magnesium, which give the wines a pronounced mineral note and great freshness. The natural acidity of this soil also helps preserve the grape’s purity.

We produce Lacryma Christi — a fresh, aromatic wine in its white, red and rosé versions — known for its citrus and floral notes. The red is more structured and intense, with hints of ripe fruit and spices. We also produce Catalanesca IGP del Monte Somma, made from a grape variety unique in the world.

In the past, we owned vineyards not recognized by the DOP and classified as generic wine. After eight harvests of trials and experimentation, we decided to pick the grapes at the end of October, creating a late harvest. This allows the grapes to ripen longer on the vine, developing natural sweetness and higher alcohol content.

From this intuition came two wines: a red named Giuseppe Tizzano, which bears my name, and a white named Vincè, dedicated to my father Vincenzo, who passed away in 1997, and to my son, who now represents the third generation in the winery. These wines have given us great satisfaction: four years ago we received the award for best red wine in Italy, and they continue to be highly successful as exclusive products created by us.

The Vesuvius soil remains the key element in producing high‑quality wines capable of expressing truly unique characteristics.

Antiche Radici practices “heroic agriculture,” which translates into wines like Gragnano. What is the secret to making contemporary palates at VinItaly fall in love with such a lively red wine, so deeply rooted in Neapolitan tradition?

The secret lies in producing a wine that tells our story and that of our family: Gragnano Tre Viti.

Our Gragnano is still made today as our grandfather Luigi used to make it, following an ancestral method we preserve with respect. We carefully select our growers — the true protagonists of the supply chain — and we practice heroic agriculture, a value increasingly central to our company: every bunch is harvested strictly by hand.

Gragnano needs no introduction: it is a lively, fresh wine that speaks of conviviality. Mario Soldati called it “a small great wine,” while Totò celebrated its authenticity, advising us to avoid any Gragnano that wasn’t naturally sparkling.

At Antiche Radici, we produce it with passion, committed to protecting its tradition and enhancing its territory. In recent years, we have also converted several vineyards to produce grapes for the Penisola Sorrentina DOP Gragnano, further strengthening our bond with the land.

Our goal is to tell, through every bottle, a story of family, identity and passion. Because Gragnano does not follow trends — it outlives them, remaining true to itself.

Today, our company is owned by two women: Gilda Iovine and Francesca Iovine.

And so concludes our journey through the finest wines from Campania on display at Vinitaly 2026. This edition reaffirms the exceptional quality of the Campania region, which is able to fully express its identity and history through the dedication and quality of its producers.