Just behind the glistening seaside escapes, there is much to see and do on the Amalfi Coast. Besides being famous for the stunning coastline, there are also gravity-defying Amalfi Coast wineries that are very much worth a visit.
As someone who has lived in Italy for over a decade and has my wine certification, I have done my fair share of wine tasting around Italy, including on the Amalfi Coast. And, now that I am a travel planner who curates itineraries to Italy, I often help travelers with a food and wine focus discover unique experiences like visiting hte Amalfi Coast wineries. Here I’m sharing six Amalfi Coast wineries to visit, but we can, of course, help you arrange wine tastings throughout the region!
Wine On The Amalfi Coast
If you love wine but thought the classic vineyard tours were just for Tuscany, you’re in for a treat. Wine from this area is often grown right into the cliffs, in narrow rows that march down the steep slopes.
Amalfi is located in the Italian region of Campania, and wine production has been happening here for centuries. According to “The World Atlas To Wine,” Ancient Romans’ “most valued wines came from the province they called Campania felix, the fertile land.” Records show wine being produced there as early as 800 B.C. and, in Amalfi specifically, since 600 B.C.
Wine grows so well here because of the rich volcanic soil, the hot, dry summers, and the mild, wet winters. The sea air and altitude also help create the perfect environment for grapes. Some of these grapes are now considered native to the region and are used in producing the DOC Costa d’Amalfi wines. DOC stands for Designation of Controlled Origin and is a special Italian designation given only to specific wines produced and blended in a certain way. However, just because wine has been grown here for a long time doesn’t mean it’s easygoing, but those that do it are rewarded with an excellent finished product.
Carly Bricca, a certified sommelier and owner of Bravino Italian wine club describes it best. She says, “Amalfi Coast wine is heroic winemaking. Winemaking on the Amalfi Coast involves a lot of manual labor. It almost seems impossible to grow grapes here, yet they do. The steepness also means the vines produce only a small quantity of grapes, which helps produce high-quality wine.”
Six Amalfi Coast Wineries To Know
If you want to explore more than the usual Amalfi Coast tourist destinations, and immerse yourself in this labor of love tradition, read on for our wine lovers guide. Be it for day trips or for wines to sip at our favorite Positano restaurants, here are some Amalfi Coast wineries to know:
Le Vigne di Raito
To take in unrivaled views of the coastline as you sip your wine, don’t miss Le Vigne di Raito. They offer panoramic terraces, a visit to their picturesque lemon grove, and a light lunch made of local delicacies. Le Vigne di Raito, being directly above the town of Vietri sul Mare, makes it a quick stop on your Amalfi coast wanderings.
This vineyard started in 2001 after the owner fell in love with the patch of land and its unbeatable views. They quickly realized it was the perfect spot to grow and make wine besides being gorgeous. Today, they offer various wine varieties, spaghetti cooking classes, dinners, weddings, and more. Looking for privacy? This vineyard can’t be beaten for its picnic offering. They prepare the lunch, take the basket and wander the gorgeous grounds until you find the perfect spot to relax, eat, drink, and take in a perfect Italian day.
Le Vigne di Raito, Via San Vito, 9 Raito, Vietri Sul Mare, Italy 84019
FloraMi
In 2013, two winemakers from Naples set out to do something different in their hometown region of Campania. At the base of Mount Vesuvius, they started FloraMi with the idea of creating ungrafted white wine.
Grafting wine involves taking a vine cutting of one type of grape, and attaching it to another type of grape’s root to avoid the devastating root louse, phylloxera. This pest is only attracted to certain types of vines, so by mixing a phylloxera-resistant rootstock with the wine you aim to grow, a phylloxera-proof vineyard is born. However, critics say this practice makes the wine inferior, but today grafting is mainstream, and very few vineyards are willing to risk using ungrafted vines.
However, for those that do, it’s said that ungrafted wines are more intense, flavorful, and age better. So, whether you’ve heard of grafting or not, Florami is one of the few places you can taste pure, ungrafted products. This is a great spot to bring a wine lover or a history lover since the vineyard sits near Pompeii and other attractions around Mount Vesuvius. Be sure to try both labels they produce if you go, as they are both spectacular examples of the local traditions and might be the only ungrafted grapes you will ever try in Italy.
FloraMi, Via Tirone della Guardia, 34, Trecase, Italy 80040
Cantine Apicella
The Apicella family started making wine in 1977 with 3,000 bottles of red Tramonti and haven’t stopped since. Tramonti, is one of the three DOC (Designation of Controlled Origin) wines from the Amalfi Coast region. To be a Tramonti red wine and earn the prestigious DOC labeling, the wine must be made from at least 30% Pèr e Palumbo (the local name for piedirosso grapes) and no more than 50 percent Aglianico or Sciascinoso grapes and up to 20% tintore di tramonti grapes. The rest, up to 30%, can be made up of other local varieties at the winemakers’ choice.
In this vineyard, located almost directly above the famous town of Ravello, you can enjoy mountainous countryside views, delicious wine tastings of both red and white grape varieties, and the chance to immerse yourself in the historic wine culture of the region. The Apicella family loves having guests and welcomes visitors year-round.
Cantine Apicella, Via Castello S. Maria 1, Capitignano, Italy 84010
Marisa Cuomo Winery
For a totally unique experience, look no further than Marisa Cuomo in Furore. Of the Amalfi Coast wineries on this list, this is best known for its location dug into the rock face of the Furore fjords. The grapes they grow here cling precariously to the side of the mountain, and due to the nature of the fjord’s position, they are bathed in sea and sun. Marisa and Andrea, the owners, have been making wine here since 1980 and follow winemaking traditions passed down for generations.
They offer an additional few types of red and white and a rosato, all worth sampling in their unmatched location. This is the place to be if you’re looking for an experience that’s a little different but still delicious. Be sure to try the Costa d’amalfi DOC, a pure expression of wine from this area, and ask about a wine tour.
And that’s not all. Amalfi has so many other outstanding wineries to visit. Need more suggestions, or are you looking for just the right spot for a special event?
Cantine Marisa Cuomo, Via Giambattista Lama, 16/18, Furore, Italy 84010
Cantine Apicella
The Apicella family started making wine in 1977 with 3,000 bottles of red Tramonti and haven’t stopped since. Tramonti, is one of the three DOC (Designation of Controlled Origin) wines from the Amalfi Coast region. To be a Tramonti red wine and earn the prestigious DOC labeling, the wine must be made from at least 30% Pèr e Palumno (the local name for piedirosso grapes) and no more than 50 percent Aglianico or Sciascinoso grapes and up to 20% tintore di tramonti grapes. The rest, up to 30%, can be made up of other local varieties at the winemakers’ choice.
In this vineyard, located almost directly above the famous town of Ravello, you can enjoy mountainous countryside views, delicious wine tastings of both red and white grape varieties, and the chance to immerse yourself in the historic wine culture of the region. The Apicella family loves having guests and welcomes visitors year-round.
Cantine Apicella, Via Castello S. Maria 1, Capitignano, Italy 84010
Cantina Tagliafierro
To visit a place making wine from some of the oldest-grade varieties in the world, head to Cantina Tagliaferro in Tramonti. Here grapevines grow in steep terraces dug into the sloping sides of the Lattari Mountains. The wine produced from these gravity-defying vineyards is rich, mineral, and full of flavor imparted by the cool sea air. His white and red contain local grapes such as biancazita and the prestigious tintori, mixed with other varietals such as falanghina.
This results in wine as delicious as the view plus an experience totally off the tourist path. It’s perfect for the adventurous and curious traveler. Winemaker, and owner of Cantina Tagliafierro, Rafaelle Tagliafierro, thinks everyone needs to visit this area in their lifetime. He says, “It’s a unique territory, it’s a special territory, it’s really a territory to visit in its entirety.” So, if you’re a wine drinker who appreciates world-class wine grown in special locations without all the crowds, don’t miss a stop here.
Cantina Tagliafierro, Via S. Sebastiano, 8, Tramonti, Italy 84010
Get To Know The Amalfi Coast Towns
Yes, Positano and Amalfi are lovely, but did you know 13 towns make up the Amalfi Coast (and Sorrento is not one of them)? Read all about the Amalfi Coast towns from Nerano, Positano, and Nocelle and south to Vietri Sul Mare to decide where to visit on your next trip.
Have Us Plan Your Italy Trip
Did you know we’re also a boutique travel agency specializing in Italy travel planning? If you’re looking to plan one of the best trips to Italy, our Italy trip planner services are here to help you plan your perfect itinerary.
Photo Credit: Atrani Vineyards photo by Zigres; Amalfi Coast vineyards photo by canadastock;Furore Fjord Aerial photo by Sergey Nemirovsky
