Italiano
Villa Dora and the wines sons of lava
An estate nestled in the Vesuvius National Park that gives authentic and territorial wines of the Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio appellation, with expressions that grow with time.
Twelve wonderful hectares of free-range vineyards are owned by the Villa Dora winery, delineating territorial boundaries in the area shaped by Vesuvius' lava, rich in biodiversity. Established in 1997 as a gesture of love, Villa Dora owes its founding to Vincenzo Ambrosio, whose wine production has vindicated the family's solid roots, which make their way into the sand, lapilli and ash of Terzigno, the township on the southeastern slope of the volcano, an integral part of the "Mediterranean pine forest" of Vesuvius National Park.
It is on this track (ancient outskirts of old Pompeii, rich in the archaeological remains of Roman villas) that vines from 80-year-old rows and younger plantings are interspersed with maritime pines, courted by the sun, wind and rebellious nature, competing to produce Lacrima Christi del Vesuvio, the appellation with magnetic appeal, giving authentic and expressive wines.
The Ambrogio family has breathed new life into Vesuvius in years when there was so much quantity at the expense of quality, believing in an extreme and fertile land capable of originating great excellence and transporting into the glass all the beauty of the intransigent Vesuvian black soil. This is demonstrated by the Vigna del Vulcano Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio Bianco and the Forgiato Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio Rosso, two expressions of the Campania appellation, from which one grasps the strength and identity of the wines expressed not so much in youth, but over time.
Piedirosso, aglianico, caprettone, catalanesca and falanghina are the grape varieties raised using the traditional Vesuvian pergola system, with an approach that takes tradition into account, but looks to the present and future in the use of technology and takes nature into account, since for many years the entire production (including extra virgin olive oil) has been certified organic. Stainless steel, cement vats and French oak barrels are used for winemaking and maturing the wines, in the cellar carved out of volcanic rock, under the watchful eye of winemaker Fabio Mecca, in a range that includes whites, reds and rosé.
Refined and elegant wines, sons of lava and with a Campanian face, with whites that play with lashing freshness and defy time, and reds that compete in austerity. Long aging before release is among the winery's operating modus operandi, which lets the wines through the gate only when they are ready to evoke the character and personality of that patch of land under the Villa Dora label.
The winery is currently run by Vincenzo's children, Giovanna, Francesca and Antonio, and by the passionate young grandson who also bears his grandfather's name. I have chosen for the tasting the vintages that I consider to be extraordinary and that hint at the winery's work of excellence, which is a mix of passion, terroir and determination that goes from the vine to the bottle.
To read the tasting notes, click on the name:
