Irpinia DOC is the broad, unifying appellation for inland Campania, a cool and high-altitude mountain area corresponding to the province of Avellino. It is a terroir that stands apart from the rest of southern Italy: temperate elevations and an interior where the long, cool nights give the wines freshness and finesse. The appellation was established as a DOC in 2005 and serves as the shared foundation beneath the area's three small DOCGs, Taurasi, Fiano di Avellino and Greco di Tufo.
Where the three DOCGs are narrowly defined, Irpinia DOC is deliberately broader and accommodates many styles. Here you will find white, red, rosato, mousserende vin and passito side by side. The white wines are typically made from Greco and Fiano, two of the area's classic native grapes, while red and rosé wines are based on at least 70% Aglianico. If you choose to put a single grape on the label as a varietal, it must make up at least 85% of the wine.
Aglianico is the central red grape in Irpinia, and it produces wines with firm tannin structure, dark fruit and often a tarry, earthy character that thrives in the cooler highland climate. One of the most interesting styles is the subzone Irpinia Campi Taurasini, an Aglianico red wine that sits one level below the prestigious Taurasi DOCG in the same area. It is a good entry point if you want to get to know the grape's expression without going straight to the top.
As a unifying appellation, Irpinia DOC is a good place to explore the breadth of Campanian wine, from fresh whites based on Greco and Fiano to structured reds based on Aglianico. You can delve further into the three major appellations via Taurasi, Fiano di Avellino and Greco di Tufo, or stay in the rest of Campania to see the whole region's expression.