Most italian white wine can be quite neutral in flavor. There are incredible wines to be found, but it takes some searching to find wines of inspiration. Amongst all the white wines from Italy, Fiano di Avellino is considered to be one of the major stars. Over the last few years of tasting, the wines of I Favati have continually impressed me. Their whites are rich and full bodied, perfectly balanced, with texture, spice and mouth watering acidity coming together in the most appealing way possible. Part of the reason these wines shine so brightly, is their careful attention to the vineyards. The Pietramara Vineyard is planted at nearly 1500 feet of elevation, 30 miles from the ocean and just north of the crater which was Mount Vesuvius. This volcano had a fierce explosion more than 2000 years ago, spreading volcanic ash throughout the region that truly gives these wines a character reminding us of its place.