In the heart of Mondragone, where the sea breeze meets the strength of the land, rises a place that guards the secret of our yellow gold: the lemon grove of Antica Distilleria Petrone. It is no ordinary garden, but a piece of history rooted in a millennia-old past.
A story that begins with the ancient Romans
Even in Roman times, Mondragone was not only famous for its prized vineyards. The ancient settlers immediately understood the potential of this land, planting various citrus varieties. It is on these footsteps that our lemon grove was born, strategically located in the valley of a natural tuff quarry. The peculiarity? The volcanic soil. The richness of minerals in the soil is absorbed by the plants, transferring directly into the pulp and, above all, into the peel, giving our lemons an intense and unmistakable aroma that is unparalleled.
From plant to bottle: Km0 production
The quality of our Limoncello begins with respect for nature's timing. In this lemon grove, we only harvest untreated lemons, which arrive at the distillery daily. During peak production, from January to May, we process about 5 quintals of lemons per day.
The process is a ritual of precision: once they arrive, the fruits are washed and mechanically peeled to obtain thin peels rich in essential oils. These are then immersed in pure alcohol for at least 10 days, before being expertly diluted with water and sugar.
Commitment to eco-sustainability: fruit that becomes a resource
For Antica Distilleria Petrone, quality cannot disregard respect for the environment. We have transformed our supply chain into a model of eco-sustainable production. Thanks to Km0 raw materials, we reduce transport-related emissions, but it is in the processing cycle that the true magic of recovery happens.
In a circular economy perspective, peeled fruit is no longer considered waste, but a precious resource. Once essential oils are extracted from the peels for limoncello, every part of the citrus fruit is valued, minimizing environmental impact. For example, the valorization of exhausted peels through pectin extraction, which becomes an opportunity for both internal and external use.
Choosing Limoncello Petrone therefore means not only tasting Campania excellence, but also supporting a system that loves and protects the land that nourishes it.
Do you want to savor the essence of our volcanic lemons? Click here and buy our artisanal Limoncello.
