Cherished by emperors and senators for its exceptional quality and ability to age, Falernian wine was among the most prized in ancient Rome. Now, after two millennia of obscurity, this legendary Campanian wine has been restored to past glories with meticulous attention to historical authenticity by a single remarkable family.
The glass of Falerno del Massico in my hand links me directly to the ancient past and indeed to that terrifying moment in time nearly 2,000 years ago. For Pompeii was a city awash with wine, a trading hub, with wines from throughout Rome’s extensive empire arriving and being shipped elsewhere. Its hinterland was the Campania Felix, the fertile and plentiful source of not only good things to eat but also some of Rome’s best and greatest wines, produced from grapes grown in the surrounding vineyards of Vesuvius, Sorrento, the Phlegraean Fields, Monte Massico, and Roccamonfina.
Excerpt Taken From: The World of Fine Wine
Author: Marc Millon
