The history of a tradition cannot be invented.
Tradition and taste in one sip, halfway between history and modernity. The story is that of the Antica Distilleria Petrone, now in its fifth generation and officially founded in 1858 by Domenico Petrone . A story that, however, has even more distant roots. Daughter of a generation of distillers from Naples, the company, as it grew, decided to move to broaden its horizons in Sessa Aurunca and the nearby Ventaroli di Carinola. And above all in Mondragone which became the true home of the company. A family of distillers whose centuries-old recipes have come down to us, from father to son. Recipes that were also dear to the VIPs of the time. In fact, Domenico Petrone was very close to the Royal House of Bourbon for whom he produced an after-meal elixir based on herbs that would later become AmaRè. Meanwhile, in Mondragone, an area very rich in grape marc, the Antica Distilleria Petrone soon became the hub of the town's economy, which until then had been based on agriculture.
The 40's
An economy that also grew thanks to the Petrone family, with the production of alcohol from grape marc and brandy; the residues of which, together with charcoal from the furnaces, were used by local families to heat their homes in the winter while from September to March the songs of those who worked in the distillery resounded throughout the area.
In a distillery that felt like a family given the strong bond with the entire city. In fact, this warmth and what we would now call a circular economy have always seen the family of distillers committed to their territory. It is no coincidence that at the time the company was also a shelter for the homeless who came to warm themselves from the freezing winter cold in the warmth of the boilers. This was until, during World War II, the company was completely razed to the ground and then rebuilt thanks to the zeal of Raffaele, Domenico's nephew.
In the photo
Raffaele Petrone - 3rd Generation
The 5th Generation
Today, over 160 years after its foundation, the company, thanks to the guidance of the last descendant of the family, Andrea Petrone , has managed to establish itself on the international market for the excellence of its products. Products ranging from the oldest, classic and awarded ones, such as Limoncello, through products such as Elixir Falernum and fruity-flavoured delights capable of bringing the passion and excellence of the territory into a glass. As in Guappa, which is the first and only liqueur based on buffalo milk and brandy aged for 3 years. Produced with the same milk used for the mozzarella di bufala campana Dop. All this by innovating and perfecting the production cycle while maintaining contact with its own centuries-old tradition made of love and perseverance and which offers its customers the best with simplicity, respecting the tradition that has always linked the Antica Distilleria Petrone to its land.
In the photo
Andrea Petrone - 5th Generation
