Trip to Italy Day 26 – Sorrento Tasting - Informative & Delicious

We have done a variety of tastings from being at the winemakers dining room table to a large winery but this was our first large group experience where we were bused from Sorrento to the farm – about 25 minutes all uphill, narrow and curvy.

When we arrived at the farm, we were greeted by the dad and two brothers who now run the business.

The Sorrentine peninsula is more about growing lemons and olives than grapes as nearly almost everywhere is a mountainside which works better for trees than vineyards.  I made the tasting arrangements through Viator and the place we went was the La Masseria Farm owned by the Gargiulo’s and it has been a family farm since 1898.

The hosts began with a tour of the farm which was all down and back up hill so I opted to pass on it.  These are pics from where I waited with Capri in the distance and kiwi's on the pergola.

I had a little friend stop by for a visit and a scratch behind the ears.

This is their marketing area where they sell jellies, limoncello, olive oil and their wine.  All of their business is done via these tasting tours.

As stated, the event began with about an hour tour of their farm which I sat out since it was on a mountainside, but Wende and Bev really enjoyed it.  They have 12 acres and practice sustainable farming raising chickens, pigs, goats (to eat the weeds), bees, and a cow all working together to sustain and enrich the land and feed the family. 

 They grow chestnut trees, like this one, to use the light but durable wood for their arbors.

Just as we've seen other places, they cover their lemon trees to protect them from the winter cold.

After the tour, we tasted their olive oil then had the meal in their dining area. 

We shared a table with three folks from Germany and enjoyed talking with them about our visits there. Lunch began with a first course of fried zucchini blossoms and the best bruschetta we’ve had and of course they provided some of their wine.

They do not grow their own but import the Nero D’Avola grapes from Sicily to make their table wine which is served young. 

Following the bruschetta was a plate with meat and cheese and some grilled zucchini.

Then we had pasta with a delicious puttanesca sauce (our favorite pasta dish of the trip) and finally a cake dessert with a lemon sauce.

The chef is offering seconds and the parents pose for a pic.

The meal was very good and I must make puttanesca as a pasta sauce when I get home – I’ve only made it as a sauce for fish where it is cooked much less.

The old dads visiting but unable to communicate but how about that view.

On the ride back with Capri (first pic) and Sorrento (third pic) in the distance.

Just another great experience for our trip to Italy.

As an aside, Italy is really into recycling and they even make plastic bottle caps that stay attached to the bottle when opened.

Just two more Italy trip posts to go.

Photos can be slightly enlarged by clicking on them and the blue words are links.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by Almost Heaven South.

Larry

5/8/25 event dates