Zìn Fiano, Salento 2025

Fiano is a variety you’ll not see much of outside southern Italy. Think of it along these lines: more textured than Sauvignon, more savoury than Chardonnay. It’s generally unoaked, as here, and is crisp and fresh with aromas of ripe, zesty citrus, peach, melon, herbs and pine. The palate is fresh with lively acidity, has depth, ripe fruit and a crisp, persistent finish.

The sea-urchin on the label isn’t just decoration – ‘Zìn’ is the local word for sea urchin and it points you in the right direction. This is very good with sea-urchin linguine, clams, prawns or white fish with lemon and herbs.

Produttori di Manduria is Puglia's oldest cooperative, set up in 1932 with just 17 growers, who, nowadays have over 400 members who, collectively, cultivate more than 2,000 hectares of vines. They've long been champions of Primitivo going back long before it was the fashionable grape it is today. And while wines made from this grape forms the backbone of their production, they also make a number of very interesting whites and this is where the local variety Fiano comes into its own. They're keen to keep their standards to the highest level and this is borne out by the awards they regularly achieve right across their range.