Masseria Montenapoleone hosts this full-day farm-to-table experience in the Valle d'Itria, the rolling Apulian valley of dry-stone walls and conical trulli between Fasano and Savelletri. The day begins with collection from the participant's accommodation in the Fasano area and a morning tour of the working masseria estate, where the guide leads guests through vegetable gardens and orchards to harvest seasonal produce alongside the farm staff. Over roughly eight hours, the programme moves from field to kitchen: a hands-on orecchiette pasta-making class teaches the thumb-and-knife technique for shaping Apulia's signature ear-shaped pasta from semolina dough, a skill passed down through generations of local home cooks. A cheese-making demonstration shows how fresh stretched-curd cheeses are produced, and an olive oil tasting introduces the estate's own cold-pressed extra-virgin oils with explanation of the regional Coratina and Ogliarola cultivars. The centrepiece is a four-course farm lunch built around the morning's harvest and the pasta made by the group, served with local Valle d'Itria wines such as the white Verdeca and Bianco d'Alessano. The fee covers the morning farm tour, the pasta class, the cheese and olive oil tastings, the full four-course lunch with wine, and return transport from and to accommodation in the immediate Fasano area. Personal purchases of estate products are not included. The experience runs at a gentle rural pace and is best enjoyed from April to June and September to October, when harvest activity is at its peak and the valley's temperatures are comfortable for outdoor work. Group sizes are kept small to allow each participant hands-on time in the garden and at the pasta board. Vegetarian guests are well served by the produce-led menu, and dietary substitutions can generally be arranged when requested in advance. Comfortable closed shoes and sun protection are advisable for the outdoor farm portion of the morning, which involves light walking across the estate grounds before the group settles into the kitchen and dining areas.
What is included
- Morning farm tour
- orecchiette pasta-making class
- 4-course farm lunch with wine
- olive oil tasting
- transport from/to accommodation
Good to know
- Operator
- Masseria Montenapoleone
Location
Pick up arranged from accommodation; base at Masseria area near Fasano
40.8350, 17.3600 View on map
Highlights
- Harvest seasonal vegetables alongside farm staff at a working Valle d'Itria masseria estate
- Learn the traditional thumb-and-knife technique for shaping orecchiette from semolina dough
- Taste the estate's own cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oils and watch fresh cheese being made
- Sit down to a four-course farm lunch with local Verdeca and Bianco d'Alessano wines
- Enjoy door-to-door transport from accommodation in the Fasano and Savelletri area
Tips for visiting
- Book during April–June or September–October to coincide with peak harvest activity in the valley
- Wear comfortable closed shoes and bring sun protection for the morning garden and field work
- Arrive with a light breakfast — the day builds to a substantial four-course lunch with wine
- Flag vegetarian or other dietary needs in advance; the produce-led menu adapts easily
- Allow the full eight hours; the rural pace is unhurried and not suited to a tight schedule
Frequently asked questions
Is transport from my accommodation included?
Yes. Return transport from and to accommodation in the immediate Fasano and Savelletri area is included; guests staying further afield should confirm pick-up arrangements with the operator when booking.
Can vegetarians take part?
Yes. The menu is strongly vegetable- and pasta-based, and vegetarian and most other dietary requirements can be accommodated when noted in advance.
How long does the experience last?
The full programme runs about eight hours, from morning pick-up through the farm tour, pasta class, tastings, and a four-course lunch before the return transfer.
Is the experience suitable for children?
The hands-on pasta and harvest activities suit families; contact Masseria Montenapoleone in advance to confirm arrangements and pricing for younger participants.