Villa Dora was founded by Vincenzo Ambrosio in the late 90s, after falling in love with Vesuvian wines and buying some land on the southeastern flank of the volcano, in the Lacryma Christi DOC zone. He set about replanting and reinvigorating the vines, and building a modern winery on site. The vineyards and winery are just outside the village of Terzigno, which is just a few kilometers away from Pompei (Terzigno was also buried in the eruption in 79AD). They're also completely surrounded by what is now Vesuvius National Park.

The winery is now run by his daughter Giovanna and his son Alberto. Piedirosso is the main varietal (and under appellation rules has to make up at least 50% of the blend, with any other allowed varietal making up no more than 30%). It's an ancient grape, grown in Campania for millennia, and here is blended with 20% aglianico, now by far the most popular red varietal in Campania.

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Lots of blackberry with underlying tart bing cherry, earth and mushrooms, a bit of spice like nutmeg, smoke-dried lapsang souchong black tea, camphor, balsamic, and burnt tar tannins. Drink it with pasta bolognese or, even better, lasagne di carnevale, or other hearty red meat dishes.