2016 Poggio Delle Baccanti Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio

Region: Vesuvio < Campania < Italy

Grapes: Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Organic farming; extreme volcanic soils; biodiversity in the vineyard, no chemicals used, hand-harvested; fermented in stainless steel, aged in used barrique, minimal sulfur added at bottling only; 12% ABV

Winemaker: Raffaele La Mura

The La Mura family has been making wine on the Sorrento Peninsula, on the slopes of the famous volcano, Mt. Vesuvio, since the 1950’s.  They work only with local varietals and have made “a pact with the earth” to treat it with respect, a philosophy that supports their organic farming and low-intervention winemaking practices.  This is their table wine, made of the Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio grape, which translates to "The Tears of Christ on Vesuvius”.  Italians -- in their typical dramatic fashion – so named the grape after Jesus' tears which he shed at the foot of Vesuvius (not sure why he was crying at this particular spot), but that sparked the miraculous growth of the region’s grapevines.  Whatever the origin of the grape, it makes a delicious wine to accompany food (especially pizza and tomato-sauce based delights or anything grilled) and friends.  Serve with a slight chill.