Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio: A Complete Guide

Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio is a DOC wine made on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, in Campania, southern Italy. The name translates as the tears of Christ. It comes in three styles: Bianco, Rosso and Rosato.  THE LEGEND BEHIND THE NAME. Local tradition says that Christ, looking down on the Bay of Naples, wept over a piece of paradise lost to the devil, and where his tears fell vines grew on the volcano. It is a legend, not history, but it has followed the wine for centuries.  BIANCO, ROSSO AND ROSATO. The Bianco is built on Caprettone, a white grape native to the volcano, and is dry, savoury and citrus-driven. The Rosso leans on Piedirosso and Aglianico: medium-bodied, with red fruit and a firm mineral edge. The Rosato sits between the two.  WHAT IT TASTES LIKE. These are dry wines, not sweet. Volcanic soil gives them tension and a savoury, almost saline finish that works well at the table rather than on its own.  HOW MUCH DOES IT COST IN THE US? At the American retailers we checked, recent shelf prices for Sorrentino Lacryma Christi bottlings ran between about $17 and $20.  WHERE TO BUY LACRYMA CHRISTI IN THE US. Our wines are sold by selected American wine shops in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland and Virginia. See our Where to Buy page for the full list.