Villa dei Misteri: the wine of Ancient Pompeii #22

The wine that has no analogues in the world

This unique project was started by prominent wine-maker Antonio Mastroberardino, whom friends jokingly called a grape archeologist. He came from a family of wine-makers and deeply studied the history, methods and principles of archeology. One of the most important achievement of the wine estate owned by him was the revival of autochthonic grape varieties, the Greek heritage of Campania, where Aglianico, Fiano and Greco are the leading varieties.

The business of Antonio Mastroberardino was continued by his son Piero, a winemaker and teacher at the Wine Academy, who revived the vineyards of ancient varieties right in the territory of the museum complex in Pompeii. Now, in this historic place, grapes are grown, from which the legendary wine Villa dei Misteri Pompeiano IGT is thereupon created that has become the pride of that great family. It should be emphasized that this wine has no analogues in the world.

Revival of ancient varieties

The indigenous vines in Irpinia and Campania have been cultivated by the Mastroberardino family since the 1990s. Maximum attention was paid to the varieties whose origin dates back to the Greek period of colonization and Roman times. These varieties include Aglianico, Fiano, Greco, Falanghina, Piedirosso and Coda di Volpe. Even after the wave of phylloxera, Antonio Mastroberardino collected the intact vines of varieties from different territories in order to preserve the wine heritage for future generations.

Vineyards risen from the ashes

Back in 1996, the family of winemakers was granted permission to conduct research in the territory of Pompeii, covered with ashes. The purpose of this project was to study the ancient processes of winemaking, to search for, and revive, the vines of ancient varieties, from which the then wine was created, and to revive such vines in our reality. After analyzing the planting of vines on the experimental plots, it was decided to cultivate two grape varieties Piedirosso and Sciascinoso. A blend of these varieties (90%/10% respectively) became the wine Villa dei Misteri.

Villa dei Misteri: the abode of Bacchus

Finally, in 2001, Villa dei Misteri, the wine named after a magnificent villa, where ceremonies were held in honor of Bacchus, the god of wine, was created as a result of implementation of a long-term unique project!

The historical object in the territory of Pompeii Villa dei Misteri (“Villa of Secrets”) was discovered in 1902. It took several decades to restore the building, but it was worth it: the walls were decorated with colorful, antique frescoes consisting of 29 drawings in chronological order, and even in actual size. They reflect the rite after which the Villa was named.