The DOC Falerno del Massico can be produced in the following typologies:
• White: minimum 85% Falanghina
• Red: Aglianico minimum 60%; – Piedirosso maximum 40%
• Rosso riserva: aged for no less than two years, one of which in wooden barrels
• Primitivo: Minimum 85% Primitivo. Grapes from the Aglianico, Piedirosso, and Barbera grape varieties, alone or in combination, may contribute to the production of this wine, up to a maximum of
15% of the total.
• Primitivo riserva o vecchio: Aging for at least two years, one of which in wooden barrels.
Rescue irrigation is permitted, including through specific fixed systems. The maximum grape yield per hectare in specialized cultivation must not exceed 10 t.

Production area: includes the administrative territory of the municipalities of Sessa Aurunca, Cellole, Mondragone, Falciano del Massico, and Carinola in the Province of Caserta.
Winemaking: The winemaking, mandatory aging, and bottling operations must be carried out within the administrative territories of the municipalities, even if partially included in the grape production area.
Aging: “Falerno del Massico Rosso” and “Falerno del Massico Primitivo” must be aged for a minimum of one year, starting January 1st following the grape production year, before being released for consumption.

PEDOCLIMATIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SOILS IN THE FALERNO DEL MASSICO PRODUCTION AREA

Pedology and geology of the area
The Roccamonfina volcanic system represents the true generating apparatus of the area. This now extinct volcano, with its 450 square kilometers, is the fourth largest Italian volcano and the fifth highest in altitude after Etna, Vulture, Vesuvius, and Mount Amiata. The beginning of volcanic activity can be traced back to the Early Quaternary (Neozoic) era, approximately 1,070,000–1,260,000 years ago. The volcano’s activity includes phase 1 lavas and phase 2 lavas. In the first phase of activity, in addition to the central eruptive conduit, there were also eccentric eruptive vents such as Monte Ofelio, near Sessa Aurunca, and Monte Sferracavallo, as well as explosion craters such as Lake Carinola and the Annunziata Pit, located between Carinola and Lake Carinola.

Sessa Aurunca – Cellole (Northwest Side)
Orographically, the area originates from the Roccamonfina volcanic massif to the north-northwest, while the limestone structure of Monte Massico, running southwest-northeast, almost sharply bisects the territory. Thus, the plain and the hill of Sessa Aurunca are enclosed, like a shell, by this ridge and Monte S. Croce (Roccamonfina).

pH: neutral and sub-alkaline soils prevail with a peak pH of 8.1.

Total limestone: On the southwest slope, limestone is generally absent or slightly present, particularly in the soils near the slopes of the Roccamonfina volcano. On the hilly foothills of Monte Massico, close to the coast, limestone is more pronounced, with pH peaks of 7.5-8. A slight presence of limestone is also noted in the sandy-silty clay soils originating from the river’s infills.
Humus: generally poor
Assimilable phosphorus pentoxide: little or scarce
Exchangeable potassium oxide: all soils are well supplied with it.

Temperatures: This side enjoys a remarkably mild climate, with summers that aren’t excessively hot and winters that are mild. Temperatures rarely drop below freezing. Sunny days are very common. Snow is extremely rare, as are spring frosts. Summers are also long, so much so that only at the end of October does the thermometer record an average daytime low of 16.2°C.
Precipitation: Rainfall is good, usually exceeding 1000 mm throughout the year, albeit just slightly. Unfortunately, rainfall distribution, as is the case throughout the South, sees 70% of precipitation concentrated in autumn and winter.
Winds: Due to its western coastal location, the winds from this quadrant predominate, although they have never caused or continue to cause damage due to their intensity. However, the north winds and mistral winds are quite damaging, and due to their intensity and temperature, they can sometimes compromise flowering in late winter and spring.

Carinola, Falciano del Massico, and Mondragone (Southeast Side)
The Carinola, Falciano del Massico, and Mondragone area is protected from the cold north and north-westerly winds by the same mountain range. Geologically, the area is characterized by stratifications dating from the Upper Triassic, which represents the oldest level (Monte Massico), to the most recent era, the alluvial Quaternary. Fossils of various species can be found throughout this entire structure.
On this side, it is clear that the foothills and hills are part of the limestone structure of Monte Massico, and that the entire middle section was formed by volcanic activity at Roccamonfina, while the southernmost section is of alluvial origin. The structure of Monte Massico has similar characteristics to those of the Sessa Aurunca side. A calcareous-dolomitic massif with soils of some depth in the valleys, on the gently sloping slopes, and in the debris cones, where coarser material is more easily found.
The soils in the central belt, attributable to the activity of the Roccamonfina volcano (let’s not forget that this is also where the two explosion craters of Lake Falciano and the Fossa dell’Annunziata are located), are native volcanic soils, deep, capillary, rich in humus, suitable for all crops. Regarding the nature of the soils, it can be noted that few have high clay and limestone contents, while the majority are siliceous and sandy loam.

pH: tends towards neutral or slightly sub-acidic soils with a minimum pH of 6.0.

Total limestone: absence or traces of limestone except on the hills near the slopes of the volcano.
Humus: generally poor, except for peaks of 9.2% in Parco Nuovo and Parco Del Giogo.
Assimilable phosphorus pentoxide: peaks of 200-210 kg per hectare are recorded, therefore a more than good endowment.
Exchangeable potassium oxide: all soils are well supplied with it.

Temperature: Protected by Mount Massico and Roccamonfina, which block the cold north and north-westerly winds, this area enjoys even milder temperatures than the other side, so its climate is
very temperate, both overall and in its uniformity throughout the year, especially along the Mondragone coastline.
Precipitation: Rainfall is good, usually just exceeding 1000 mm throughout the year, even on this side. Rainfall distribution here, as on the other side and throughout the South, sees 70% of precipitation concentrated in autumn and winter.
Winds: The west and south-east winds predominate, while the cold north and north-west winds encounter a significant obstacle in the mountain range that encloses this side to the north. Here, too, as on the southwest side, the constant breeze prevents fog from forming.