F alerno del Massico DOC is part of the Campania region, situated in southern Italy. It is inextricably linked to the greatest wine of Roman times, the seductive and ancient Falerno (also known as Falernum).

One legend tells of how Bacchus, Roman god of wine, turned the slopes of Mount Massico into vineyards because of the kindness that Falernus, an old farmer, bestowed on the scruffy-looking mortal version of Bacchus.

From that day on, Falerno was praised by classical Roman poets and was the drink of the ancient armies of Rome.

In days gone by, its alcoholic strength was so immense that it was often diluted – although due to its high quality, connoisseurs would leave it in its natural form. According to the philosopher Pliny the Elder, if a good-quality Falerno was held near a naked flame it would catch fire.

Most of the ancient wines were predominantly white, produced from Aminea Gemina, now known as Greco. Today the modern versions can be both bianco (white, usually the fragrant and prestigious Falangina) and rosso (red, predominantly made from Aglianico and Piedirosso with the occasional addition of Primitivo and Barbera).

Piedirosso, locally known as Per’e Palummo or Palombina, takes its name from the gnarled red bases of the vines, conjuring up an image of the red feet of a native dove. There is also a Falerno del Massico Primitivo which must be made from 85% of this varietal.

The vineyards are found in the hilly territory of the communes of Sessa Aufrunca, Cellole, Mondragone, Falciano del Massico and Carinola, in the province of Caserta. The vines enjoy an excellent level of exposure, enriched by the well-drained, tufa-rich volcanic soils on which they thrive.

Their close proximity to the sea, while enjoying a hillside elevation, means the grapes are kept healthy by the cool air currents and can mature perfectly.

Over the centuries this wine has been through various stages of decline, but has never lost its legendary status. However, producers recognized an improvement in quality was needed, and the wine was finally granted its DOC classification in 1989. It remains one of Campania’s shining stars.

Some Descriptions of Falerno Del Massico DOC Wines

Wikipedia Falerno del Massico is an Italian red wine of DOC produced in the province of Caserta in the region of Campania. It received DOC classification in 1989. Falerno is produced in the same region as the highly regarded falernian wine of ancient Rome. As of 2012, there are forty-four Falerno del Massico Wines produced in this DOC region.

Tar And Roses No other wine enjoys such a privileged place in mythology, enological and otherwise, as Falerno. For centuries, its name was inseparably linked with that of Bacchus and was used interchangeably in reference to the wine itself or to its patron diety. Legend has it that Bacchus appeared in mortal form to an old farmer, named Falernus, who lived on the slopes of Mount Massico. Despite the god's rather scruffy appearance, which he had purposely assumed, the farmer welcomed him and offered him all that he had-milk, honey and fruit. Moved, Bacchus rewarded such hospitality by transforming the milk into a wine that Falernus drank, falling to sleep immediately afterward. And at that moment, Bacchus converted the slopes of Mount Massico into a vast vineyard, launching a tradition that few other wines can begin to match..

Doctor Wine Falernum was the most expensive and sought after wine in the Roman Empire and has been documented as far back as the 1st century BC when it was considered a commodity, almost a currency, and even accepted as payment for slaves. Given that it was a must on the tables of the rich, it became a status symbol and having several amphoras was a measure of one’s social position. Evidence of this was the funeral epitaph of Caio Domizio Primo, who lived in Ostia in the IV century, which read: “It is I in this tomb, the celebrated Primo. I ate the oysters of Lake Lucrino, I often drank Falerno. Over the years, the thermal baths, the wines and loves all grew old with me..

Diary Of A Wine Critic The Ancient Romans loved their wines. This we know because their literature is riddled with vinous references. The best-known and most comprehensive tome is Pliny the Eldest’s Natural History, in which he dedicates an entire volume (Book IVX) to wine cultivation and its classification. At the top of the list was Falernum, from the slopes of Mount Falernus on the border between Latium and Campania.