Naples & Amalfi Wineries
When people think of Naples they think of its pizza, Pompeii, and the beautiful coastal villages of the Amalfi coast, and all of these things should ring a bell of course. However, the fertile, nutrient-rich soil created by the lava of Vesuvius has provided a very special terroir for grape growers to take advantage of here. Vesuvius & Amalfi wine is big, bold, and delicious, with the added risk of the vineyards possibly being destroyed by an eruption!
Make sure you eat one of these while in its birthplace – Naples
We will take you away from the crowds to see Amalfi wineries you would never have gained entry otherwise. Also up on to the slopes of Vesuvius, we visit places where grapes have been grown for centuries and where local varieties such as Lacryma Christi (Christ`s Tears) and Piedirosso (Red Foot) are being revived and refined.
We will hear the many stories and legends regarding winemaking in this ancient region from our expert local wine guide. We will meet some of the people directly responsible for carrying on age-old wine traditions. One of our favorite places on the slopes of Vesuvius is Azienda Vinicola Sorrentino which is a true family-run winery and restaurant.
- Unique off-the-beaten-track Amalfi wineries, very old vineyards
- Tours with the owners and wine makers, exclusive access
- Unusual, quirky local grapes on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius
- Visit historic Pompeii and Herculanium + beautiful Positano and Amalfi
- We also take you to forgotten Roman Villas – with no tourist groups.
- Hotel options in Naples, Sorrento or Salerno
We will arrange that the larger-than-life owner, Paolo, shows you around his vines. You can see a photo of him below on our recent visit, with our local wine guide, and you can see he enjoys his own excellent food and wine on a regular basis!
There will be other visitors here tasting the wine, eating in the restaurant and looking around but we will have the owner to ourselves for a stroll among his vines. Paolo’s wife organizes the kitchen and their children help in serving and all the family are involved in working the vineyard and winery. The business has grown quite a bit over recent years but it still retains a full family involvement, something that is very common in southern Italy.
The lunch and pairing here is superb, we try many of the extensive range of wines (most you will probably never had heard of before) and the local food is delicious. The views over the vineyards and up to Vesuvius are a perfect complement to the food and wine. From Sorrentino, we head off down the volcano towards the Amalfi coast but on the way, we will stop at a Roman Villa which is virtually un-visited to show you how the other half lived in Roman times.
We won’t talk about the Villa visit here as you will be given all the info at the place but we can say that just being in such a place, having it almost to yourself, is a fantastic experience. You can really soak up the atmosphere of walking in the footsteps of the ancient Romans without being jostled by large tour groups.
The ruins of Pompeii with its brooding destroyer as a backdrop
Then we head up into the hills which form the backdrop for this spectacular stretch of coast to try Amalfi wine. We climb up to an area just over the pass called Tramonti where several wineries are found. The cooler nighttime temperatures in these higher valleys make for a balanced wine, strong sunshine providing plentiful alcohol and deep hues, while strong coastal breezes help keep the grapes healthy.
Our Amalfi wine experience is a very intimate one we are proud of and we will spend time with the owner and winemaker. We will hear about the “Tintore” grape that is particular to this small wine region plus try a few other obscure varieties. The Monte di Grazia winery produces a small range of reds and whites, and the red (Rosso) typically is a blend of 90% Tintore (Ink) and 10% Piedirosso (Red foot) with the result being a very dark wine with notes of black fruit, a spicy, tannic wine with acidity towards the higher end of the scale.
To read more technical info on the winery click here
The vines owned by this small winery are very old indeed and are subsequently low-yield and limited editions. The sea has an influence even at this distance as mists roll up from the Amalfi coast and often wines will exhibit a salty note. You will get a chance to walk among vines that are over 150 years old and see the twisted, gnarled pergola structure that now gives us this age-old fruit.
Some of these vines are over 150 years old, Amalfi wine reflects its long history
After enjoying touring, tasting and chatting for an hour or so we head down to the famous Amalfi coastal road and wind our way to either Naples, Sorrento or Salerno depending on where you have chosen to stay. The views are stunning and we will stop a couple of times so you can take photos. If you would like a full day out along the Amalfi coast just let us know so we can program it in, that also is true for visiting Pompeii and Herculaneum. To combine Vesuvius and Amalfi wine with other producing regions of Italy feel free to browse our Italy pages and speak to us.
