On Friday 17 October, we’ll be raising a glass to the very firstFiano Day,a brand-new national celebration for one of the most exciting white wine varieties in Australia.
If you’ve been following Libby’sFiano Fridayseries, you’ll know she’s tasted more than 30 different Fianos from across the country. The verdict? Fiano is one of the most versatile and food-friendly wines out there. Zesty and citrus-driven with oysters, textural and nutty with pasta or roasted chicken, and even expressive in skin-contact styles, there’s a Fiano for almost every occasion.
At Cupitt’s, our Fiano comes from the Hilltops wine region in NSW, an area we believe is perfectly suited to this grape and many other Italian varieties. With its warm days, cool nights, and rich soils, Hilltops produces Fiano that is vibrant, expressive, and naturally balanced. It’s a region that shares so much of what makes Italian varieties thrive, and we’re proud to showcase that through our wine made here on the South Coast.
Of course, Fiano isn’t new. It’s an ancient grape from Campania in southern Italy, believed to have been enjoyed by the Romans, who called itApaniaafter the bees that loved its sweet juice. Nearly wiped out by phylloxera, it was revived in Italy in the 20th century and later championed in Australia by pioneers like Coriole and the Chalmers family in the early 2000s. Today, Australia has the most plantings of Fiano outside Italy, and it’s thriving in regions from McLaren Vale to the Adelaide Hills and now in NSW’s Hilltops.
Why is it catching on so fast? Because Fiano is perfectly suited to Australian life. It’s sustainable, resilient in hot, dry climates, retains its freshness in cooler regions, and most importantly, it tastes bloody good with the food we love to eat. In 2025 alone, the value of Fiano crushed in Australia jumped 56% to $3.72 million, and more than 70 wineries now produce it. It’s one of the fastest-growing grape varieties in the country.
So how are we celebrating?
- Instagram Live with Corrina Wright(Oliver’s Taranga), known as theQueen of Fiano, where she and Libby will chat all things Fiano from history to winemaking to why now is the time to jump on the Fiano train - Friday 3 October - 1pm (Eastern Standard Time, 1pm in SA)
- Fiano specials all weekendat Cupitt’s Estate, special pairings and pours designed to show off the versatility of the grape.
- A Fiano party on site 17 October -a relaxed way to mark this new varietal day with wine, food, and the South Coast views we love. LIve music, FIano specials. Good times.
Fiano Festa is about more than just one grape. It’s about celebrating heritage, sustainability, and the joy of discovering something new in your glass. Join us at Cupitt’s this October and be part of the very first Fiano Day.
