There is a place where wine tells an ancient and dramatic story, where the terroir mixes with lava, where the vine challenges the volcano. It is Sorrentino winery, a winery located on the slopes of Vesuvius, in Boscotrecase, a few kilometers from the excavations of Pompeii. Here, among the Caprettone, Piedirosso, Aglianico, Catalanesca and Falanghina vineyards, an exceptional wine is produced quality, the result of a family tradition that dates back to 1953, when grandmother Benigna decided to transform her “bushel” into a small business.
Today, Tenuta Sorrentino is led by his son Don Paolo – to whom their 100% Aglianico was dedicated – and by his grandchildren Giuseppe, Maria Paola, and Benny, who have been able to innovate and enhance their vineyards, certified organic, vegan, and specialized in the native varieties of the territory. But what makes Sorrentino wine unique is the indissoluble link with the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, the one that destroyed Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabia, and which remained imprinted in the stratifications of the soil. Among the vineyards of Sorrentino, in fact, it is possible to observe the complete succession of the products of the eruption, thanks to the discovery of two volcanologists from the University of Naples, Claudio Scarpati and Annamaria Perrotta, who recognized in an outcropping wall the testimony of that tragic day.
The eruption began at around 1pm on 24 October (or August) with the formation of a Plinian column, preceded by a weak phase of phreatomagmatic opening. The lapilli deposit is made up of white pumice and gray pumice, which accumulated from an eruptive column up to 32 km high. Numerous pyroclastic currents occurred during and after the accumulation of the upper part of the pumice deposit, burying the surrounding cities and countryside. In this scenario, Sorrentino wine takes on a profound and symbolic meaning, like a rebirth from the ash, as a challenge to destiny, like a celebration of life.
Sorrentino wine is the wine that comes from the fire of Vesuvius, which enhances its characteristics and transmits its essence. A wine that embodies the history and soul of this land, which can be discovered and tasted by visiting Sorrentino, where you can live unique wine tourism experiences, between art, culture and tradition.
To find out more about the wines and the activities, select our tour “A Spasso Tra Le Vigne del Vesuvio” where an expert sommelier will guide you on a unique journey where you will taste the wine that comes from the fire of Vesuvius, the wine of Sorrentino.
See you soon,
Andrea NWT