In 1948, just as Italy was recovering from World War II, Giovanni Russo founded his small family winery on the volcanic slopes of Mount Vesuvius.
At the time, wine was trasported to Naples by horse-drawn wagon, where small, rural vintners sold their wines to larger merchants, who then supplied shops and restaurants around the city.
Giovanni's son, Maurizio, began working at a young age in the family business, starting out as a humble field hand.