LACRYMA CHRISTI del VESUVIO DOC

The Name
“Tears of Christ”

 Legend has it that a when Lucifer fell from God’s grace, he took down a piece of heaven with him. Christ, upset at losing both Lucifer and a piece of heaven, cried and where his tears fell vines grew. 

Another, perhaps more realistic version, is that the name comes from the latin, “lagrima”, also in reference to tear but to a drip filtering system invented by medieval monks. This system was documented in the 16th c and already in the 17thc the “Lacryma Christi” name appeared in documents. 

The Land

The DOC production area surrounds the base of the volcano and is actually within the Vesuvius National Park. The vines grow in a top soil of pure volcanic ash and pumice. The soils in this area are fairly homogenous with little variability, but the volcano offers a range of different exposures and altitudes which are the main distinguishing geological features when it comes to comparing wines from the area. The vines grow from about 50m-400m asl on the lower and mid elevation slopes of the Volcano.

Vesuvius is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in recorded history. In fact, the volcano is so infamously explosive that geologists gave an entire eruptive category its namesake. Vesuvian/Plinian (named after Pliny the Elder, the historian who died trying to save people in Pompeii during the 79 AD eruption) eruptions eject volcanic debris and hot gases into the stratosphere, the second layer of Earth's atmosphere. Of course, we are all familiar with its devastation of Pompei and the less well known, but equally devastated, Herculaneum in 79CE, but Vesuvio had quite the eruptive history even before Pomeii. In 1995 BCE during the Bronze Age, a huge eruption, known as “Avellino” because the eruption was so explosive it reached the province of Avellino in the Appennines.. Geologists estimate that the Avellino Eruption had a VEI (volcanic explosivity Index) of 6, the largest explosion in geological history being 8. The eruption that devastated Pompeii had a VEI of 5. The footprints of people and animals in exodus from Nola at Croce del Papa after (or during) the Avellino eruption are forever imprinted in the hardened pyroclastic materials.

An eruption continues to be an ever present threat to the Neopolitan locals as 700,000 people live in the “death zone” of the volcano. Not all eruptions of Mt. Vesuvio are Vesuvian in nature, however, but the most recent eruption in 1944 had a VEI  with an estimated 4,000 casualties. Yet, people still live there generation after generation- a testament to the mythic power and magnetism of volcanos.

The Grapes

The red grapes of the Lacryma Christi DOC are Aglianico, Piedirosso, Olivella and Sciascinoso the latter two  taking a very small (but increasingly interesting) roll in the blend. 

The mineral rich soils are poor in organic which naturally curb the otherwise vigorous production of the Aglianico variety. Alcohol tends to be moderate despite the warm climate, and Piedirosso adds perfume and rustic tannin to the wine. 

The white is based on Capprettone. T, with small optional additions of Falanghina (most common), Verdeca and Greco. here is a hot debate whether or not Caprettone is genetically identical to Coda di Volpe. The latest genetic analysis points to them as different cultivars. Physically, they also look rather different, but who really knows…there would have to be more testing and for more testing, there has to be more interest. 

The whites often have a flinty, matchstick note that producers attribute to the high sulfur levels in the soil. 

Production Rules

Lacryma Christi is actually a more stringent sub denomination of the greater Vesuvio DOC, with more regulations on yields and higher alcohol levels. 

Bianco: Minimum 45% Caprettone and/or Coda di Volpe; maximum 35% Falanghina and/or Greco; maximum 20% Other authorized white grapes…this leaves the blend pretty open ended but you don’t see producers venturing beyond the Caprettone/Coda di Volpe + Falanghina/Greco blends. 

Rosso: Minimum 50% Piedirosso; maximum 30% Aglianico, Olivella, and/or Sciascinoso; maximum 20% Other authorized red grapes. Most blends on the US Market are Piedirosso and Aglianico