Mastro Lacryma Christi White

Mastroberardino Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio Bianco (750ML)

Mastroberardino Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio Bianco (frequently called Mastro Lacryma Christi White) is a historic, volcanic white wine from the Campania region of Southern Italy. It is produced by the legendary Mastroberardino estate, a family winery active since the 1750s that is single-handedly credited with saving Campania’s ancient Roman grape varieties from extinction.

The name Lacryma Christi translates to "Tears of Christ." According to local Neapolitan legend, God cried when he found a corner of heaven stolen by Lucifer; where his divine tears fell on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, these historic vines miraculously burst from the earth. Grown in dark, mineral-rich volcanic ash and stone fragments, this bottle stands as the definitive benchmark expression of the Vesuvio DOC, consistently earning solid 88 to 90-point ratings from critics like James Suckling for its brilliant quality-to-price ratio.

Quick Product Specs

• Size: 750ML

• ABV: 12.5%

• Wine Type: Dry Volcanic White Wine

• Grape Architecture: 100% Coda di Volpe (specifically the Coda di Volpe del Vesuvio clone, sometimes locally called Caprettone)

• Fermentation: 100% Stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures to lock in fresh terroir

• Origin: Volcanic slopes of Mount Vesuvius, Campania, Italy

Tasting Notes: Flavor and Aroma Profile

Because the Coda di Volpe grape absorbs the extreme mineral characteristics of mainland Europe's only active volcano, it trades generic fruity profiles for an austere, chiseled, and smoky structure.

• Aroma (Nose): Bright, stone-forward, and highly aromatic. The bouquet opens with an immediate wave of salted lemons, fresh pink grapefruit, and lemon zest, giving way to riper secondary notes of white peach, Bartlett pear, and a distinct whiff of flinty smoke.

• Palate (Taste): Medium-bodied, tense, and incredibly clean. The first sip treats the tongue to crisp green apple and lemon pith flavors. Across the mid-palate, it shows magnificent old-world balance, matching the citrus flesh against a unique, savory herbal note of fresh licorice root.

• Finish: Crisp, structured, and mouthwatering. The fruit flavors fade into a lingering, bone-dry finale defined by tense acidity, chalky volcanic stones, and a trailing whisper of saline minerality.

How to Serve and Appreciate This White

• Serve Well-Chilled: To keep the smoky volcanic minerals and citrus zest perfectly focused, serve this wine cold, ideally between 46°F and 50°F (8°C to 10°C). Pull it straight out of standard refrigeration, but avoid serving it ice-cold, which can temporarily mask the delicate white peach and licorice aromatics.

• Give it Time in the Glass: Coda di Volpe (which translates to "tail of the fox" due to the shape of the grape clusters) can be structurally tight when first uncorked. Do not rush the pour—let it breathe in your glass for 5 to 10 minutes. As the liquid catches the air, the initial stony edge relaxes, allowing the ripe pear and floral honey notes to expand.

Best Food Pairings

Lacryma Christi’s high natural salinity, sharp citrus pith, and total lack of oak make it an absolute powerhouse culinary engine for coastal Italian cooking.

• Seafood & Raw Bars: It is a natural, flawless companion to linguine alle vongole (clam pasta), fried calamari, grilled sea bass, or raw oysters on the half-shell.

• Neapolitan Classics: A world-class match for traditional Spaghetti alla Puttanesca or a simple wood-fired Pizza Margherita; the wine's acidity cuts through rich olive oils and balances cooked tomato sugars brilliantly.

• Creamy Risottos: The sharp lemon zest and mineral drive act as a supreme palate cleanser against rich, comforting dairy textures, making it spectacular alongside lemon-herb chicken or a wild mushroom risotto.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Lacryma Christi White sweet?

No, it is a bone-dry white table wine. While the nose offers highly aromatic, sweet-smelling top notes of ripe peach, pear, and honeyed yellow flowers, the liquid contains no residual sugar. It finishes with a crisp, slightly bitter lemon-pith crunch and an austere stone minerality that leaves the mouth feeling completely refreshed.

What exactly is the "Coda di Volpe" grape?

Coda di Volpe is an ancient, indigenous white grape variety native to Campania that dates back to Roman times (it was even documented by Pliny the Elder in his natural histories). The name literally translates to "Tail of the Fox" because the long, hanging, and tapered grape bunches look exactly like a fox's tail as they ripen on the vine. It is prized for creating medium-bodied wines with balanced acidity and a naturally high affinity for absorbing volcanic soil minerals.

How long can I cellar this wine?

While Mastroberardino's strict winemaking techniques give the bottle enough structural integrity to hold up for 2 to 3 years, this expression is intentionally crafted to capture the youthful, vibrant essence of fresh volcanic fruits and citrus oils. It is highly recommended to pop the cork within a couple of years of its vintage date to experience that signature saline freshness at its absolute peak.

If you are expanding your knowledge of Southern Italian whites, I can pull together a quick comparison table matching Lacryma Christi against Campania's other iconic white varieties (such as Fiano di Avellino, Greco di Tufo, or Falanghina) to map out their weight and flavor differences. Do you want me to do that?