A tour of the most beautiful wineries on the islands of the Bay of Naples

These are heroic wineries, with vineyards often overhanging the sea, contained by ancient dry stone walls, carefully preserved by modern winemakers. Wines that taste of the sea, clearly denouncing their origin.

Known the world over for their beauty, Capri, Ischia, Procida, Vivara and Nisida are the islands in the Gulf of Naples that rise from the waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea, framing the Campania region that shines in art, nature and culture, so much so that it holds the Italian record for the largest number of sites recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. Ten in total, including tangible and intangible ones: the Royal Palace of Caserta, the archaeological area of Pompeii and Herculaneum, the Cilento Valle di Diano and Paestum National Park, the Amalfi Coast, the monumental complex of San Leucio, the Church of Santa Sofia in Benevento, the historic center of Naples and the art of Neapolitan Pizza makers.

Campania is also recognized worldwide as a food and wine paradise: the favorable Mediterranean climate and the fertility of its lands have earned it the appellation Campania Felix. Sea, mountains, lakes, rivers, forests and volcanoes inhabit the region, making it truly special, with viticulture playing a primary role and becoming heroic and extreme, especially on the coast and islands, due to steep slopes and dry stone walls shaped by winemakers.

From the volcanic soils (primarily green tuff) of green Ischia, to those of karst origin, limestone and with pyroclastic remnants of glamorous Capri, which has identical compositional nature to the Monti Lattari of the Sorrento peninsula, of which the island is probably the continuation, thus representing a separate fragment from the coastal rock. The other islands of the Neapolitan archipelago, the minor ones, are also of volcanic matrix and belong to the geological area of the Campi Flegrei together with the wild Procida.

The excellent wine production sees for Ischia employed the varieties of Biancolella, Forestera and Per'e palumm (Piedirosso), plus other grapes such as Aglianico and local biotypes almost all of which are free-range, such as Uva Rilla, Guarnaccia, Procidana, Coda di cavallo the Cantammela, the San Lunardo as well as others all grown by hand on terraces overlooking the sea, ranging from 200 to 800 meters above sea level, where the wind, the "parracine" (dry stone walls) and the sea are the protagonists of the production, already appreciated in the 12th century.

On Capri, the few hectares planted with vines (about twenty) are mostly in the municipality of Anacapri, close to the coast and on Mount Solaro. Here the varieties encountered are Falanghina, Greco, Biancolella and Piedirosso, in addition to Ventrosa and Ciunchesa of which very few vines are found.

On Procida, in the few existing rows, in addition to the native Levante, there are grapes from the nearby Phlegraean area, while before the phylloxera attack (mid-1800s) there were several local black grape varieties, such as Cavalla and Tenella.

An invaluable overall genetic heritage for viticulture in Campania, with a unique ampelographic bulletin that sees the Islands of the Gulf of Naples among the richest areas of biotypes and grape varieties and where the vines are "seasoned" by the saltiness brought by the wind allowing wines with unmistakable organoleptic characteristics and unparalleled charm to be obtained.

Last but not least: Ischia since 1966 and Capri since 1977 are Doc.

To read the wine sheet, click on the name.

Ischia:

• Casa D’Ambra, Ischia Biancolella Frassitelli 2021 
• Antonio Mazzella, Ischia Bianco Vigna del Lume 2021 
• Tommasone, Ischia Biancolella Tenuta dei Preti 2021 
• Crateca, Epomeo Cràstula 2015 
• Pietratorcia, Ischia Rosso Vigne di Janno Piro 2020 

Capri:

• Scala Fenicia, Capri Bianco 2020 

Procida:

• Isola di Procida Cantine Farro, Campi Flegrei Falanghina Terra Casata 2021

Related Products