What to do · Itria Valley
Vineyards and Itria Valley white wine tasting at I Pàstini
Information
- From
- €15 adult
- Duration
- 1 h
- Season
- All year except Saturday afternoons, Sundays, public holidays and 14 to 20 August
- Who it's for
- Adults; ages 6 to 17 pay €7
What it is
The Itria Valley is white-wine country. Its grapes are verdeca, bianco d'alessano and minutolo, which for decades were almost lost among more productive varieties. I Pàstini is a family winery founded in 1996 in the countryside between Locorotondo and Martina Franca to bring them back; its first harvest was in 2003 and today it farms 18 hectares. Visiting it is the way to understand the landscape you see from the road: low vines between dry-stone walls and the cones of the trulli.
The visit
It begins with a presentation in the winery garden. Then you stroll among the vines of minutolo, bianco d'alessano, verdeca, primitivo and susumaniello, enter the winery and finish with a tasting of some of its wines, which change according to the season and what is available. It comes with taralli, friselle, olives and dried broad beans. The house wines include the white Faraone and two verdeca sparkling wines, the Cupa from bianco d'alessano, the Rampone from minutolo and reds from susumaniello and primitivo.
It lasts about an hour, in Italian or English. It costs €15 per adult and €7 for ages 6 to 17.
When to go and how to book
You must always book: through the form on its website, by email at [email protected], by phone, +39 080 384 7149, or by WhatsApp. There are no visits on Saturday afternoons, Sundays or public holidays, and the winery closes from 14 to 20 August. The practical choice is a weekday morning or early on Saturday.
Getting there
The winery is on Strada Cupa Rampone, in the municipality of Martina Franca, beside the trulli road that goes towards Locorotondo. From the centre of Locorotondo it is about 10 minutes by car, and from Martina Franca a little less. If you are going to taste, have someone else drive or take little.
Tips
- Combine it with Locorotondo After the tasting, eat in Locorotondo's old town and go up to its viewpoint.
- Ask about the Bottega The winery has a shop and pantry with products from the estate.
- Avoid the weekend There are no visits on Sunday and on Saturday only in the morning.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the tasting at I Pàstini cost?
€15 per adult and €7 for ages 6 to 17.
How long does it last?
About an hour, with vineyards, winery and tasting.
Do I need to book?
Yes, booking is compulsory.
Which grapes are grown in the Itria Valley?
Mostly white: verdeca, bianco d'alessano and minutolo. At I Pàstini there are also primitivo and susumaniello for reds and rosés.
Who runs it
- I PàstiniVineyard visit and tasting at the winery Visit their website
