FIT FOR A KING

Raise a glass to the authentic flavours of Salento. Gourmands will discover how Apulia gained its reputation as a fine wine producing region on a food and wine escape to the countryside from Lecce. A visit to a renowned winery, a wine tasting experience and a delicious dinner are included in this experience.

Your private chauffeur will pick you up in Lecce in the afternoon and drive you to a wine estate located in the fairy-tale setting of a 16th century castle, surrounded by palm trees, gardens, more than three thousand olive trees and a two-hundred-hectare vineyard. Here wines are crafted from the native grape varieties Primitivo, Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera and named after mythical Greek characters, as a tribute to the territory’s early Hellenic beginnings. Although the vineyards are situated in sunny southern Apulia, the grapes benefit from the cooling effects of the salty maritime breezes that blow in from the Ionian and Adriatic seas. These factors, together with the characteristics of the clayey-limestone soil, contribute to the creation of full-bodied, perfectly balanced wines. Owned by a local family, now into the third generation of wine makers, the estate has successfully managed to combine traditional farming activities with innovatory techniques and a laudable “green” philosophy and is considered to be a model for wine making throughout the region.

Upon arrival, a member of staff will greet you and lead you on a tour of the property, which begins with a stroll along the aromatic herb path and through the vineyards, and is followed by a visit to the wine cellar. You will get to know the history of the estate, once inhabited by the wine-enthusiastic Basilian monks, and hear about the efforts of the current owners to achieve the highest quality while endeavouring to protect the land, respect the environment and implement sustainable farming methods. Next, step inside the wine museum to enjoy a display of historic photographs and tools relating to farm life which tell the story of wine making in Salento. After a guided tasting of six different wines, paired with traditional local snacks, the experience will end with a visit to the castle and a candle-lit meal served in a top floor room.

After dinner rejoin your driver and return to your accommodation in Lecce.