Sip trips: wine-tasting holidays at Masseria Fontanelle during Italy’s autumn harvest

This autumn, Masseria Fontanelle in Puglia, Italy, invites wine lovers to discover the rich flavors and heritage of the region through their immersive wine experiences. With recent data from GetYourGuide in collaboration with YouGov revealing that 48% of British tourists are interested in learning a new skill on holiday, and 50% of those specifically ranking ‘wine tasting or brewing experiences’ among their top three holiday skills to master, wine tasting holidays have never been more popular. 

Masseria Fontanelle is the perfect setting for wine lovers to test their tastebuds this autumn. Set on a stretch of shoreline known as the ‘Maldives of Salento’, Masseria Fontanelle is a 36-room boutique retreat that was once a 16th century monastery, and focuses on slow living, wellness, and all things local - especially the food and wine. 

Complimentary weekly wine tastings

Each week, guests of Masseria Fontanelle are welcomed to join a complimentary guided wine tasting experience led by a certified AIS sommelier, who will lead them through the elements that make Puglian wines so distinctive. Guests will:

• Learn the art of sensory analysis, beginning with the wine’s colour, reflections, and clarity.
• Explore the complex bouquet of aromas that define each variety
• Taste and evaluate key components such as acidity, sweetness, and tannins.

Each session lasts approximately one hour and can be reserved directly via reception.

Exclusive vineyard tour at Vigneti Reale

For those wanting to learn even more about Puglia’s winemaking traditions, Masseria Fontanelle also offers an in-depth vineyard tour in partnership with winery Vigneti Reale, available for €50 per person. This authentic experience includes:

• A guided walk among the vineyard rows, with the chance to join the grape harvest in September.
• A visit to the cellar and farmhouse to learn about the winemaking process.
• A tasting of three wines (white, rosé, and red), accompanied by local delicacies.

Guests will also have the opportunity to purchase wines at special rates and arrange shipment directly back to the UK. Located just 75 minutes from Masseria Fontanelle, this excursion is an ideal way to return from your Puglian holiday with more than just a tan.

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Editors notes

About Masseria Fontanelle 

Set in the protected Litorale di Ugento Natural Park, just 900m from the white sand beaches and clear seas of a stretch of coastline referred to as the 'Maldives of Salento', Masseria Fontanelle is a 4* boutique hotel that was once a 16th century monastery. Exclusively for guests aged 12 upwards, Masseria Fontanelle is a 36-room hotel primarily aimed at couples and focuses on slow living, wellness and all things local – especially the food and wine. As well as two outdoor sea-view pools, the hotel is home to Sanctuarium Spa, an underground cavern spa with a candlelit pool, Turkish bath, and a sauna which can be reserved by the hour free of charge. Masseria Fontanelle also offers seasonal yoga, pilates, and meditation sessions as well as an outdoor gym in a forest setting. There is also an outdoor cinema under the stars, a pool and gin bar, and a restaurant serving a buffet breakfast and traditional Puglian cuisine. 

For more information please contact Isabel Turner-Hicks or Kristie Crozier at vivosa@lemongrassmarketing.com or call 01865 237 990.