Vesuvio DOC

DOC area for red, rosé and white wines in the Italian region of Campania. The zone completely covers the municipalities of Boscotrecase, Ercolano, San Sebastiano al Vesuvio and Trecase, and parts of the municipalities of Boscoreale, Cercola, Ottaviano, Pollena Trocchia, Portici, San Giuseppe Vesuviano, Sant'Anastasia, Somma Vesuviana, Terzigno, Torre Annunziata and Torre del Greco in the province of Naples. The vineyards are located on the lower slopes of Vesuvius high above the Gulf of Naples. Wine was already being grown here in ancient times, long before the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 A.D., which completely destroyed the famous city of Pompeii, among others. The volcanic soil is perfectly suited for the cultivation of vines and wine. The name of the wine type "Lacrima Christi del Vesuvio" is derived from a legend. Naples was so wicked thousands of years ago and the wickedness of the people living there was so great that whenever Jesus/God looked down on this spot of earth, he had to cry. His tears fell on Vesuvius and made the ground nutritious and fertile.

The wine from this area had a rather modest reputation until the DOC classification in 1983. Especially the well-known Mastroberardino winery subsequently helped the wine to gain new prestige. The Bianco is blended from Caprettone (35%) and Verdeca (45%), as well as Falanghina and/or Greco (max. 20%). (Contrary to the DOC information, the Caprettone variety is not identical according to DNA analyses, or is not a clone of the Coda di Volpe Bianca variety.) The wine types Rosso and Rosato are produced from Palombina = Piedirosso (zum. 50%), Olivella = Sciascinoso (zum. 30%) and Aglianico (max. 20%). With an alcohol content of at least 12% vol. and a maximum of 65% of the possible must, all three wines may bear the designation Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio. Of all three, there is also a Spumante and of the Bianco also a Liquoroso. If the grapes come from classified vineyards, Vigna can be indicated followed by the name of the vineyard.