Vesuvio Lacryma Christi DOC is the wine produced with the native grapes of Mt. Vesuvius, which were already being cultivated prior to ancient Roman times. In fact, the first evidence of grape cultivation on Vesuvius dates back to the 5th century BC.

The vineyard and the land

The vines that climb the slopes of Vesuvius have come down to us directly from the Aminei, an ancient people of the northern Greek region of Thessaly, who brought the vines when they arrived in this area in the 5th century BC. The roots sink into the dark and porous lava soil, rich in minerals, ash, and lapilli. This soil doesn't need irrigation, as it retains moisture and then releases it. Organic manure is used as fertilizer, along with small quantities of sulfur and copper. We plant rose bushes in front of the row of vines, as they are indicators of soil health and the need for any interventions.

• Caprettone for Vesuvius Lacryma Christi Bianco DOC
• Piedirosso (Per'e Palummo) for Vesuvio Lacryma Christi Rosato and Rosso DOC
• Aglianico for Spumante Rosè and Reserve, blended with Piedirosso

Caprettone

This is a native vine unique to the area of Vesuvius, whose name Caprettone (literally "big goat") comes from the fact that the grape bunch resembles a goat's beard. For this type of grape we use a pergola cultivation system, which helps protect the vine from the elements. In particular this helps protect from the sun, which can cook this grape's very thin skin. The pergola also helps shade the roots, as the vines don't have an irrigation system. The pergola is a very ancient method that in recent years has become more necessary than ever due to climate change.

Piedirosso

In dialect this grape is called Per'e Palummo ("pigeon's foot") because that's what its stem resembles if it is separated from the grapes. This is our winery's main red grape variety and is cultivated with an espalier system. This system helps us obtain the best maturation and therefore a sugar level that allows for optimal fermentation during the winemaking process. We generally use a single and bilateral Guyot training system. We are also experimenting with a sapling cultivation system.