Contrada

Another in a seemingly endless list of quality-conscious Campania wineries born recently (this one was founded in 2003), Contrada owns four hectares and rents out another two from which it makes all of Campania’s typical wines, from Fiano di Avellino to Taurasi. Contrada is one of only two estates (the other is Tenuta Sarno 1860) making serious wines from Candida, an area in the heart of the Fiano and Greco production zones near Avellino characterized by calcareous-clay soils with white rocks that give the zone its name (candido means candid or white). Of the estate’s many wines, made from organically farmed grapes, I like the flavorful, pungent Fiano di Avellino Selvecorte best.