Villa Raiano: A Focus on Irpinia’s Native Wines and Distinctive Terroir
Villa Raiano, set amidst the rolling hills of Irpinia in Campania, is a family-owned winery celebrated for its commitment to organic practices and the unique terroir of southern Italy. Surrounded by lush vineyards and chestnut forests, the winery sits atop a scenic hill in San Michele di Serino, offering panoramic views of the Sabato River Valley. Dedicated to producing wines from Campania’s native grapes, Villa Raiano crafts wines that capture the essence of Irpinia’s diverse landscape, blending tradition with a modern approach to sustainable viticulture.
The History
Villa Raiano was founded in 1996 by brothers Sabino and Simone Basso, together with their brother-in-law Paolo Sibillo, expanding the Basso family’s legacy from olive oil production through Oleificio Basso into winemaking. Initially established in the historic oil mill factories of the Raiano hamlet in Serino, the winery relocated in 2009 to a hilltop in San Michele di Serino, chosen for its scenic beauty and elevation. This site, surrounded by vineyards and chestnut woods, balances the estate’s modern structure with its natural surroundings. Under the stewardship of Sabino, Simone, and Paolo, Villa Raiano has continued to grow, achieving organic certification in 2011 and committing to minimal intervention and local grape varieties. Through sustainable practices and a focus on native varietals, the Basso family has established Villa Raiano as a distinguished name in Campanian winemaking.
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| Sabino Basso |
The Estate and the Vineyards
Villa Raiano’s 27 hectares of vineyards are spread across diverse sites in Avellino, certified organic since 2011 and sustainably managed to express the distinct character of each plot’s terroir. The winery’s Greco vines are planted across nine hectares in Altavilla Irpina and Montefusco at elevations up to 550 meters, where sandy soils layered over tuff-stone marl produce mineral-rich wines with vibrant acidity. In Castelfranci, another nine hectares of Aglianico grow at 550 meters on clay and limestone soils enriched with volcanic ash. These vines, benefiting from southeast exposure, yield structured wines with notable depth. A special hectare of 55-year-old Aglianico vines, cultivated in the traditional “pergola avellinese” style, adds historic character to Villa Raiano’s Aglianico wines.
Fiano is cultivated across three locations, totaling nine hectares in Montefredane, San Michele di Serino, and Lapio. These plots, planted on clay-rich soils with traces of volcanic ash, produce complex, mineral-driven wines that reflect the essence of the land. Each vineyard site imparts unique qualities to the Fiano, with variations in altitude, exposure, and soil composition contributing distinct characteristics to the wines. Through these thoughtfully managed vineyards, Villa Raiano captures the unique qualities of Campania’s native grape varieties, highlighting the diversity and depth of the Irpinian region.
Wine Production
The 3,500-square-meter steel and glass structure, designed by architect Annalisa Palmieri, embodies a modern, sustainable aesthetic that blends harmoniously with the surrounding Irpinian landscape. Since its founding in 1996, Villa Raiano has produced Taurasi, Greco di Tufo, and Fiano di Avellino, merging innovation with Irpinian winemaking traditions through the entrepreneurial vision of the Basso family. Within the state-of-the-art cellar, grapes are handled with precision, using gravity-fed techniques that minimize mechanical intervention for gentle handling of the fruit. This careful blend of tradition and technology underscores Villa Raiano’s commitment to quality and sustainability. Further enhancing purity, the winery has discontinued daily bâtonnage, allowing wines to rest undisturbed on fine lees, which preserves the vibrant acidity characteristic of Irpinian varieties, an approach that maintains freshness without adding extra richness.
Producing around 300,000 bottles annually, Villa Raiano focuses on Campania’s native grape varieties: Aglianico, Greco di Tufo, Fiano di Avellino, and Falanghina. Dedicated to organic farming and minimal intervention, the winery preserves the natural character of each grape through low sulfite levels. Under the guidance of oenologist Fortunato Sebastiano, Villa Raiano’s Classic line pays homage to Irpinian tradition by blending grapes from multiple vineyards to capture a balanced regional terroir. Meanwhile, their zoning project highlights single-vineyard wines such as Ventidue Fiano di Avellino, Alimata Fiano di Avellino, Costa Baiano Irpinia Campi Taurasini, Bosco Satrano Fiano di Avellino, Ponte dei Santi Greco di Tufo, and Contrada Marotta Greco di Tufo. Together, these lines reflect Villa Raiano’s dedication to both tradition and the distinctive characteristics of Irpinia’s diverse terroir.
Tasting Experience: Wines with a Chef-Prepared Lunch
During my visit, I had the chance to explore Villa Raiano’s wines through a curated tasting experience, with each wine thoughtfully paired with dishes crafted by their chef for the occasion. We began with Ripa Bassa Spumante Brut, a classic-method sparkling wine made from Fiano and Greco grapes, aged 36 months on the lees. Its bright acidity and layered complexity paired beautifully with local fried pizza, enhancing the wine’s crisp profile. The bubbles provided a refreshing lift, balancing the richness of the fried dough and accentuating the savory flavors of the dish.
The second tasting featured Fiano di Avellino DOCG 2023, a stainless steel-vinified expression of Fiano that preserved its fresh, mineral notes. Paired with a delicate seafood and vegetable dish, the wine’s vibrant, mineral-driven character elevated the flavors of the pairing. Finally, we tasted Aglianico Campania IGT 2021, a wine aged in a combination of wooden barrels and stainless steel, which revealed a balanced structure and depth. This wine paired beautifully with risotto topped with crispy pancetta, followed by a rich meat course, where its boldness harmonized with the dishes’ hearty flavors.
Villa Raiano
Address: Via Bosco Satrano 1, Loc. Cerreto 83020, San Michele di Serino (AV) Italy
Tel: +39 0825 595663
Website: https://www.villaraiano.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/villaraiano
