FLAVOURS OF APULIA

Munch your way through the Itria Valley on this full-day food excursion. It won’t take gourmands long to realise why this region has become such a favourite with savvy foodies. Your private guide and chauffeur will pick you up at your hotel and lead you on a tour of four must-taste hotspots.

You begin your day with a pleasant ride to a farm whose pride is the production of top class olive oil, the region’s most precious liquid gold. A member of staff will greet you and give you an introduction to the activities carried out on the estate, owned by a local family, now on the sixth generation of dedicated olive oil makers. However, the estate’s origins date way further back in time, as attested by the fascinating traces of ancient civilizations, which have, surprisingly, survived to this day almost intact. As you will discover on a tour of the farm, here it is possible to retrace the history and development of country life and the tradition of olive oil making from the Roman period right up to modern times. While you wander through the olive grove your host will tell you about the centuries-old – and on occasions even thousand-year-old! – trees and how, despite their age, they still thrive in this sun-blessed Mediterranean haven. Your tour will then continue with a visit to the impressive remains of a Roman era hypogeal mill, a medieval dwelling, barn and stables, a 17th century farmer’s house, an 18th century church, shepherds’ home and furnace and a mill from the 1800s now used as a small but intriguing museum dedicated to peasant culture. This is a truly remarkable real life encyclopaedia of farming through the ages. A tasting of extra virgin olive oil provides a delightful encounter with Apulia’s millenary tradition.

Next, bite deeper into the region’s gastronomic heritage on a behind-the-scenes visit to a cured meat laboratory. “Earth was created in 7 days, this Capocollo in 200”: this is the company motto, a tribute to Capocollo di Martina Franca and its slow genesis. Here, you will get to know the various stages in the making of Capocollo, produced exclusively with the meat of free roaming pigs, and find out how the expert hands of local food artisans, together with the beneficial effects of time, contribute to the creation of the very best in Apulian charcuterie. After the tour, treat your palate to irresistible slices of cold cuts… we guess you’ll agree that slow is beautiful and well worth the wait.

A delicious lunch made with fresh, seasonal ingredients will be served at a nearby restaurant, offering traditional Apulian specialities.

In the afternoon rejoin your driver and reach a family-owned winery located between Locorotondo and Martina Franca. This estate was established in 1996 with the aim of relaunching native grape varieties of Verdeca, Bianco d’Alessano and Minutolo and creating high quality wines through a modern approach to wine making. Twelve hectares of vineyards spread over a valley on an ancient wine-producing territory, particularly suited to the cultivation of white varietals. Accompanied by a member of staff, you will explore the vineyards, cellar and original 18th century farmhouse, learn all about the production of the estate’s wines – from planting, through harvesting, to bottling – and discover the decisive role played by the combination of sunlight and salty sea breezes in this particular grape growing process. Top off your visit with a guided tasting and a toast… cheers to Apulia!

The final stop on this mouth-watering adventure will bring you to a small, highly esteemed caseificio, set in the countryside near Locorotondo, amidst olive trees and trulli. Here creamy creations are made using prime quality milk and techniques passed down through generations. A sampling of locally produced mozzarella, burrata and caciocavallo will allow you to appreciate the extraordinary fragrance and distinctive flavours of Apulia’s unequalled dairy produce.

Return to your hotel in the late afternoon with the flavours of Apulia still lingering on your tongue.