Michele Contrada's family has farmed vines in Candida, in the heart of the Fiano di Avellino zone in Campania's Irpinia, since the early 1900s. For generations they sold their grapes until, in 2003 brothers Michele and Gerardo founded Contrada and bottled their first wines under their own label. Michele, the "peasant soul" of the pair, looks after the vineyards, while Gerardo handles the commercial side and is always ready to experiment. The estate blends tradition with innovation: the vineyards have been fully renovated, a weather station guides eco-sustainable work in the vines, and a hands-off approach lets each wine express its terroir. Production is small, about 50,000 bottles a year, spanning indigenous white and red varieties such as Fiano and Aglianico. Their quality has been recognized with Gambero Rosso's prestigious Tre Bicchieri award, earned for their Fiano di Avellino.