A Taste of Sorrento at La Sorgente

One of my main motivators when I travel (and in life if we are being completely honest) is food. If I can't do anything else when I travel, once I can eat good, local food, I am happy. During my trip to Naples, I had an experience I will never forget - a taste of Sorrento at La Sorgente, a family owned farm in the hilly countryside.

On arrival, it did not look like a farm, but after a lively greeting from the locals, it became apparent. The locals were very welcoming, roaming about in their areas happily, as anyone lucky enough to live in Italy would be.

In addition to the animals on the farm, La Sorgente is home to acres of lemon, walnut, and orange trees as well as grape and olive vineyards for the wine and olive oil they produce. Our guide, Rosa, walked us through the farm explaining what they grow and produce on the farm, as well as the history of the farm. We also got a glimpse into how olive oil was produced prior to the introduction of modern machinery. It was truly "a labor of love."  Another really cool fact? While the men tended to other laborious farm work, it was the women that were the producers of some of the finest olive oil.  

As we continued on, it was time to meet Maria who would show us how mozzarella (and ricotta) cheese was made. Maria is the resident cheesemaker and uses the milk from the cows on the farm for the cheeses. She made it look so efortless, but it was clear that making Italian cheeses is a science and an art.

After the demo, it was time to eat. We made our way to the dining area which had incredible views of the hillside and the Bay of Naples. Our meal included bread with both a lemon and a pepper olive oil, Italian charcuterie and Maria's mozzarella, the best mozzarella I have ever had in my life. Even though it was only 10am, there was plenty of wine to go around.  When it comes to local customs and traditions, trust me, I adapt very easily...



We concluded our time at the farm by sampling some of La Sorgente's famous limoncello. (The farm has over 4 acres of lemon trees primarily for limoncello production.) I had never had limoncello before but I was pleasantly surprised by the taste. It was strong, but so good, especially the cream version. All of the limoncello (and olive oil) I purchased may have been the reason why my suitcase was so heavy coming back home. Overall, La Sorgente was such an incredible experience, and I am already planning to go back. I hear that Maria teaches a wonderful pizza making class...



Azienda Agricola La Sorgente

Via Artigiana, 1880067 - Sorrento

lasorgentesorrento@gmail.com