Vesuvius in the Glass: John Szabo MS Awards Sorrentino Wines at Campania Stories 2026
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The story of Vesuvius can be told through wine.
And this time, that story comes through one of the world's leading authorities on volcanic wines.
During Campania Stories 2026, Master Sommelier John Szabo tasted more than 200 wines from across the region. Szabo — principal critic at WineAlign and author of the award-winning Volcanic Wines: Salt, Grit and Power — selected several Sorrentino wines among his 90+ point recommendations.
For Sorrentino, however, the significance goes beyond scores.
The most remarkable aspect is the performance of wines with considerable bottle age, demonstrating the potential of Vesuvius wines to evolve while retaining freshness, character and a profound sense of place.
Three wines. Three mature vintages. Three 93-point scores.
93 POINTS | DON PAOLO 2008Aglianico Pompeiano IGT
Produced from Sorrentino's highest vineyards on Vesuvius, reaching approximately 700 metres, Don Paolo 2008 impressed Szabo with its remarkable freshness and elegance after nearly two decades.
93 POINTS | FRUPA 2016Piedirosso IGT Pompeiano
From old Piedirosso vines grown on volcanic soils, Frupa 2016 revealed a completely different dimension of this indigenous grape. Szabo described it as an “eye-opening example” and highlighted its exceptional capacity for ageing.
93 POINTS | VIGNA LAPILLO BIANCO 2018Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio Superiore
Eight years after harvest, Vigna Lapillo Bianco 2018 remains remarkably vibrant, combining creamy texture, freshness and excellent length.
The recognition extended across the Sorrentino portfolio, including Latikadea 2020 – 92 points, Vigna Lapillo Bianco 2023 – 92, 7 Moggi 2024 – 91, Vigna Lapillo Rosso 2021 – 91, Benita 31 2024 – 90 and Vigna Lapillo Rosso 2022 – 90.
There is another detail that makes the feature particularly meaningful to us.
Szabo's Campania report is illustrated with his own photograph of the black volcanic lapilli on Vesuvius at Sorrentino Vini.
That image takes us back to the origin of everything we do.
Volcanic soil. Indigenous grapes. Altitude. Time.
And a family that has chosen to preserve and interpret this extraordinary landscape generation after generation.
These scores do more than celebrate individual wines.
They confirm something far greater:
Vesuvius wines can age.Vesuvius wines can surprise.Vesuvius wines belong on the international fine-wine stage.
Sorrentino VesuvioWhere lava becomes wine.
