Naples: wine with a sea view

Caprettone – ever heard of it? It forms the basis for the white Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio. This wine is grown on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius. There are currently six commercial wineries there, one of which is Casa Setaro. The small winery in Trecase, above the excavations of Pompei, can be reached via narrow, winding streets. With almost 14 hectares of vineyards, Massimo Setaro is already one of the big names on Vesuvius. A few years ago, Massimo, who still earns the small change he needs for everyday life as an engineer in the telecom sector, started making his own wine. The cellar is located in the basement of his home - for now. Because further up the slope, a new home for the Casa Setaro wines is being built, with a cellar and a proper tasting room. The vines stand on pure volcanic soil. The vines are true to the roots, and some are well over 100 years old, true Methusalems. Massimo Setaro works with four varieties, two white, Caprettone and Falanghina, and two red, Aglianico and Piedirosso. The wines taste distinctly salty mineral, show juicy acidity and are pleasantly light in alcohol.