Private Lunch “At the Winemaker’s Home” at Cantina del Vesuvio: taste and tradition among the vineyards of Mount Vesuvius

Our car service booked us lunch and a wine tasting at Cantina del Vesuvio on our way to the Amalfi coast after we hiked to the top of Mount Vesuvius. We were each immediately handed a glass of Rose’ in welcome upon our arrival, and we then enjoyed a short tour of the vineyards, a cistern converted to a wine cellar, and the bottling area inside the winery building. We chose the Superior tasting, which features 6 wines of longer cellaring. Lunch was varied and flavorful, from bread with olive oil and the especial gelatinous rose-colored wine vinegar of their own production, to vegetables, cheeses, several cold cuts, pasta with tomato sauce and several delicious and tender meatballs. The suggested wine pairings were spot on. Lunch finished with dessert wine and cake made according to a local recipe. The staff was attentive and friendly and the views were stunning. A memorable experience.

We had the worst experience at this vineyard as part of our honeymoon. Cantina Del Vesuvio did not provide the vineyard tour we specially paid for and whilst they did gave us lunch, they completely ignored our group for the whole time - there were 4 of us and given it’s our honeymoon and no one else was be at us, my husband asked if he and myself could sit as the table along as we wanted to enjoy the experience as a couple (the other two individuals in the tour, whilst friendly, didn’t speak the same language and it was an awkward dynamic sharing a small table with them). They wait staff then ignored us in favour of the other two individual in the tour, for instance they got their dessert 10 minutes before us despite us all finishing at the same time and I eventually had to specially call someone over. The experience was for the vineyard tour, and whilst the lunch was a nice addition it was not the main event. They gave us 4 tasters of wines but didnt explain what they were (the booking specially said a wine tasting with a qualified sommelier) and in fact forgot to bring us a wine which they admitted was for the starter until the end of the main course. They eventually refunded us £18 (experience was over £100) and admitted in writing that they “dropped the ball” because its harvest season, but if they’re unable to run tours properly during peak season they shouldn’t be running them at all. We were incredibly disappointed and upset with the way we were treated, as if we were an inconvenience, and we strongly urge others to avoid Cantina del Vesuvio due to their lack of attention and refusal to refund us at least 50% to cover the tour portion of the day that we never got

Nice location. Terrible food and wine, i mean almost inedible food and horrid wine. Not friendly staff, fake nice as soon as you arrive then roll their eyes at attempts to pronounce things. They didn't pick you up from Pompeii or drop you off there. They don't pick you up or return you on any kind of schedule either. Don't bank on catching that next tour or train.

Very disappointing. Tour guide unintelligible, food non-descript, and staff surly or indifferent. Definitely not worth your time or money.