Villa Dora “Vigna del Vulcano” Lacrima Christi Vesuvio DOC (2022) – Campania

THE GRAPE
Lacryma Christi


THE WINE  
Hailing from the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, Lacryma Christi translates to Christ’s Tears. The local legend is that the name comes from Christ crying at the fall of Lucifer from the heavens, letting his tears spill across the land, rendering it fertile for vine growth. If evidence is required to validate that claim, then here it is!

The traditional blend for Lacryma Christi Bianco is Verdeca and Coda di Volpe with smaller additions of Falanghina and Caprettone. The inverse is the case here. A predominance of Caprettone (80%) is blended with Falanghina to create a beautifully balanced wine with a pleasant minerality. A few hours of skin contact creates a golden hue and the wine glints in the glass. Aged for 8 months in stainless steel on lees, it has resulted in a medium-weight wine with a long finish. It has a clean, flinty aroma with hints of lemon and white flowers, while the white peach and toasted almond are present in the mouth. Try this with spaghetti alle vongole or even roast chicken to draw out its rich notes.

But for the curious...
Caprettone is indigenous to Campania and one of the grapes traditionally used for Lacrima Christi. The variety grows predominately around Mount Vesuvius. Formerly thought to be related to Coda di Volpe, it has now been shown to be another variety entirely. The traditional area for planting Caprettone is on the south side of Vesuvius, exactly where Villa Dora’s vineyards are located.