2013 Villa Dora 'Vigna del Vulcano' Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio

Region: Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio > Campania > Italy

Grapes:  80% Caprettone (AKA Coda di Volpe), 20% Falanghina

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: certified organic farming, volcanic soil, 300m elevation, 70 year-old vines, fermented and aged in stainless steel, no malolactic fermentation, 6-8 months on fine lees, aged in bottle at least 3 years; 13% ABV

Winemaker: Vincenzo Ambrosio

LIBRARY RELEASE ALERT! Most people think that natural wine should be chuggable, drunk upon release and definitely not laid down in the cellar. But, the whites of Campania, and particularly this blend from the Ambrosio family proves them all wrong. While youthful wine is alluring for many reasons, we also welcome a change of pace every now and then and opt for something a little more mature. The reason this wine works is first of all the amazing terroir –the Ambrosio family land lies just east of Naples and insidethe Parco Nazionale del Vesuvio – yup, the vines are literally on the slopes of the infamous volcano that caused the destruction of Pompeii. The dozens of eruptions in between, including most recently in 1944, deposited layers of different types of ash and lava in the soil creating a unique ecosystem for growing grapes.  When Vincenzo Ambrosio started the winery in the 1990’s, he realized this and decided he would keep most of each vintage in storage for at least 3 years before release. He considers Mt. Vesuvius both the destroyer and also the preserver –and decided to honor this by holding the wines until he was sure they were ready, and would best represent the volcano. He is also certified organic and encourages the growth of native plants in the vines and around the rest of the property. Other than that, there is no fancy cellar work, just a simple hands off philosophy in order to let Vesuvius show herself. And wow, does she!

Super fresh with the grace and texture of a perfectly aged white Burgundy, this perfectly-preserved gem even benefits from a little air after opening. After that, it’s pure volcanic beauty – salty, preserved lemon, white flowers, and apple, with long finish. We enjoy opening this about an hour before we are going to drink it and serve with the food of the region – fish, of course, but also tomato dishes and pasta of all kinds!