Vesuvio

🇮🇹 Italy

DOC Rare find

DOC 1983 - "Lacryma Christi" (Tears of Christ), Mount Vesuvius volcanic slopes, same vines as ancient Pompeii, Mastroberardino 11 generations

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Region profile

History

Vines planted on Vesuvius slopes since 5th century. Greeks brought viticulture, Romans developed extensively - Pompeii citizens enjoyed these wines before 79 AD eruption. Medieval monks revised legend replacing Bacchus with Christ weeping tears (lacryma) over Naples. Wine mentioned in literature: Voltaire's Candide, Dumas' Count of Monte Cristo, Marlowe's Tamburlaine. DOC established 1983. Mastroberardino (11 generations since 1750s) hired archaeologists to rescue DNA from grape seeds in volcanic ash, saving Coda di Volpe, Aglianico, Fiano, Greco from extinction. Now officially replanting ancient vineyards in Pompeii excavation site as Ministry of Universities research project.

Climate
Mediterranean volcanic; Mount Vesuvius (1,281m) slopes; 15 communes around volcano including Boscotrecase, San Sebastiano al Vesuvio, Ottaviano, Terzigno, Torre del Greco, Ercolano (ancient Herculaneum), Pompeii area; extremely fertile volcanic soils from past lava flows; warm dry conditions; vineyards from lower slopes to ~700m altitude; Vesuvius National Park territory
Signature wines
Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio DOC Rosso (Mastroberardino - 11 generations since 1750s, benchmark; Cantina del Vesuvio; Sorrentino; Villa Dora; Cantine Olivella); ruby red; smoky volcanic minerality; Piedirosso-based dark earthy character; black cherry, herbs, ash; 12%+ alcohol. Bianco: Coda di Volpe/Caprettone base, citrus-floral, volcanic mineral
What sets it apart
Lacryma Christi "Tears of Christ" legend - Christ wept over Naples' beauty; same vines as ancient Pompeii (79 AD); Mastroberardino rescued ancient grape DNA from volcanic ash; now replanting Pompeii archaeological vineyards; 15 communes around active volcano; Caprettone grape exclusive to Vesuvius; mentioned in major literature (Voltaire, Dumas, Marlowe); stricter Lacryma Christi sub-denomination within Vesuvio DOC

Facts

  • DOC 1983
  • Lacryma Christi = more stringent sub-denomination with higher alcohol, stricter yields
  • legend: Christ wept tears over Naples recognizing paradise stolen by Lucifer, tears became vineyards
  • alternative legend: Christ turned water to wine for hermit on Vesuvius
  • same grapes enjoyed by Pompeii citizens before 79 AD eruption
  • mentioned by Voltaire (Candide), Dumas (Count of Monte Cristo), Marlowe (Tamburlaine)
  • Mastroberardino rescued DNA from seeds in volcanic ash to replant ancient varietals
  • now replanting vineyards in Pompeii archaeological site

Region profile from the Wine Memories wine-data corpus · verified January 2026