Cantina Del Vesuvio Winery Russo Family since 1930 — Restaurant in Trecase

We took the train from Napoli to Pompeii ourselves & it was very convenient that they offered free shuttle to bring us to the vineyard. It was one of the deciding factor to visit them and not another vineyard. However, the pick-up didn't go as smoothly as we had to call on arrival. No one answered. We finally got to the vineyard 1-hr later than scheduled. However, the tasting experience plastered that sore. We got a lovely rose sparkling to taste on arrival with a quick tour. We're wine-tasting "pros" & it was unusual to have the wine tasting during meals, as oppose to vineyards having an in-house restaurant where you have the meal & order from their selection of wines on the wine list to "taste". We got a plate of cold cuts & bread and tasted 3 wines (White & Red Classic, Superiorer), then the Riserva with the mains (pasta & meatballs). All is good except the tasting wines weren't enough for us & there was no option to get extra proper glasses to the food. All very fun for just €40!

We went for the wine after all so, the verdict: All tasted was 2019 & naturally had that specific volcanic element we were after here. We were surprised by how good the Rose Spumante was. Fruity, crisp, elegant with balanced acidity. We also loved the White Superiore, which had great light straw colour & good body, the red Classic & Superiore were not as memorable. The Riserva stood out, medium bodied & well-balanced but surprisingly less volcanic notes like at Etna or Teide. Btw, their "home-made" wine vinegar was sublime, syrupy & good tartness!

Unsurprisingly, we bought a case of 2 Rose Spumantes, 2 White Superiore & 2 Riservas & 2 wine vinegars. All wines & vinegars were £28 each & Riserva £45. In my opinion, they were all not too great value as there is much more out that I'd rather get for that money but we wanted to support their good work & it's always exciting to drink wines bought directly from the vineyard itself when back home.

All in all, if you like wines, I'd highly recommend the visit even if you don't buy...

An absolutely lovely time by all was had at Cantina del Vesuvio Winery on July 20, 2024. The welcome with a bubbly rose was just the start. We moved on to a tour of the winery by a gentleman who was so kind and engaging. From there it was to the rooftop of the winery structure with Mount Vesuvias in the background for a fabulous lunch, paired with three different wines, all organically made and without the sulfates that often leave one with a headache later.

We all enjoyed the first generous plate of food given to each of us, only to be followed with spaghetti and meatballs, topped off with a delicious ricotta cake. We all had enough delicious food to make us feel very full and happy. The attendants on that rooftop gave us a description of each wine as they poured each one.

Along with lunch was homemade bread with their own olive oil and wine vinegar, which was terrific. When we stopped inside the building we were given a sample to try of their dessert wine.

Before leaving we had a chance to purchase the products we tried to take home, but we did not feel pressured to do so. They do ship to the United States which we may take advantage of in the future.

If given the chance, I would love to visit this winery again and perhaps take some of the cooking classes they offer at another...

Meh. With all the positive reviews and buzz it just didn't live up to the hype. The hosts were overly welcoming...with incredibly over the top cheesy jokes and one liners. We felt like we were in some sort of roadside attraction not an upscale classy establishment. When you're presented with the wine you get the name of it and that's it. No info about the grapes, growing processes, why it's unique. To the point and what to eat it with. It felt sanitized, commercialized, and like they'd done it so many times that nothing felt special anymore (which is probably true🤣) . Unlike other Campania area wineries, the pours are very small. The winery "tour" is one stop in the room where they keep the barrels not even a walk through the vineyards. The entire experience felt rushed and ready for the next group. The view is, of course, top notch, and the food was good. Not phenomenal but good. I'm glad that we didn't spring for the $155 cooking class as the inexpensive tasting was a bit of a disappointment. Purchasing wine there is very spendy, especially in a locale where good wine is less than €10 in the grocery stores. Next time we will try one of the many other...