I wish Ken and I could have discovered your beautiful little town several years ago instead of just a few months before our departure from Italy.  I do hope our paths will cross again when we return to Italy in several years.  I love your tours because you offer something that is not normally offered… I will always treasure the “Knead to Know” bread class. I am hoping to find a way to have a brick oven in Minnesota.

cliccare quì per leggere in italiano

A Savour the Sannio Culinary Adventure
Saturday, June 13th

The Sannio is renowned for its excellent honey. Graced with fertile land and temperate climate, the meadows and heirloom orchards of the Beneventano provide an ideal environment for busy honey bees. It comes as no surprise therefore that the Sannio is one of Italy’s largest producers of honey.

Life on Earth as we know it depends on the honey bee, Nature’s hardest working citizens. “No bees, no honey; no work, no money” the old saying goes: master ecologists, they are essential for the pollination of many fruit, nuts and vegetable crops. It is said that were the honey bee to disappear from the face of the globe, Man would quickly follow.

Little-known facts about bees:
Bees have 5 eyes, can fly at 20 mph and have two pairs of wings; an average hive can hold over 50,000 bees in the summer; the queen bee lays over 1500 eggs per day which is equivalent to the weight of her own body; losing its stinger will cause a bee to die; bees carry pollen on their hind legs; to make one pound of honey foragers must collect nectar from 2 million flowers; the average forager will make about 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime.

What a buzz! So take the day to appreciate the product of these noble creatures while enjoying the fresh air and sunshine in the company of the Razzano family at their beautiful organic farm. A glorious day out for family and friends! A jar of honey makes a great gift.

PROGRAM
10:00 - 11am –Guided visits to the beehives. We will put on protective gear and visit the bees’ waxy homes to see how they live and are cared for.
11:00 - 12 am – Take part in the process of honey-making
12:00 – 1:00 pm – Jam-Making. Over an open fire guests will be able to participate in the ritual stirring of the season’s first jams.
1:30 pm – 4 course lunch with wine.
After lunch relax in the gardens, children can have fun at the playground or visit the farm animals or visit Sant’Agata de’ Goti.

Cost: Adults 45,00 euro Children (6-12) 20,00 euro Children (1-5) free

To reserve your place or for more information contact Barbara Goldfield or call 0823.953663, 347.1416866, 338.8802315.

“Honey, even more than wine, is a reflection of place. If the process of grape to glass is alchemy, then the trail from blossom to bottle is one of reflection. The nectar collected by the bee is the spirit and sap of the plant, its sweetest juice. Honey is the flower transmuted, its scent and beauty transformed into aroma and taste.” - Stephanie Rosenbaum

Bees work for man, and yet they never bruise
Their Master’s flower, but leave it having done,
As fair as ever and as fit to use;
So both the flower doth stay and honey run. - George Herbert

And last but not least, a reminder: unless you want to be pollinated by bees, don’t wear perfume  in the garden!

DIRECTIONS BY CAR FROM ROME
1. take the AI motorway south towards Naples and exit at CAIANELLO (125km from the Roma Sud tollgate).
2. take the SS 372 Telesina (first right) towards Benevento.
3. after 35 km take the exit for S. Agata dei Goti and Naples.
4. you will now be on the Fondo Valle dell’Isclero  (call us at this point.  You are about 15 minutes away)
5. Take exit for Sant’Agata dei Goti.  Follow this road for about 1km and look out for the wooden sign with Ape Regina on your right.

By respecting all the speed limits the trip should take no more that 3 1/2 hours.

DIRECTIONS BY CAR FROM NAPLES take the A1 Motorway north and exit at Caserta Sud.  Follow the signs for Benevento and Telese. After passing the Carolino Aqueduct, take the second exit marked Sant’Agata dei Goti. (call us at this point.  You are about 5 minutes away)  Follow this road for about 1km and look out for the wooden sign with Ape Regina on your right.

(Many thanks to David Traylor for the title of this event)

Watch the fascinating TED video on bees.

Una Gustosa Avventura con Savour the Sannio
Sabato, 13 Giungo

Click here for English version

Il Sannio è noto per il suo miele di qualità: le api trovano ancora in questa regione ampie campagne e paesaggi arricchiti da colline, montagne, orti e frutteti. Non sorprende che questo ricco ambiente regali un prodotto ottimo e vario.

La vita come la conosciamo sulla Terra dipende molto dall’ape: è uno dei nostri più utili ed instancabili concittadini, conosciuta fin dall’antichità come proverbiale simbolo di grande lavoratrice. Oggi apprezziamo anche il ruolo di questi insetti nella indispensabile impollinazione di molti raccolti di frutta e verdure.
Si dice che se l’ape dovesse scomparire dal pianeta l’Uomo non sopravviverebbe a lungo.

Alcuni dati poco noti sulle api:
Sono dotate di 5 occhi e  volano ad oltre 35 km/h con le loro due paia di ali; un alveare in estate può ospitare in media 50.000 individui; la regina è l’unica a deporre uova, oltre 1500 al giorno, pari al peso del suo corpo; un’ape muore se perde il pungiglione; il polline viene trasportato sulle zampe posteriori; per produrre 1 etto di miele le operaie bottinatrici devono visitare mezzo milione di fiori; quindi nella sua breve vita un’operaia ne  produce mezzo cucchiaino.

C’è di che farsi ronzare le orecchie! Quindi approfittate dell’occasione per conoscere da vicino queste grandi piccole creature, e godere una giornata all’aperto in compagnia della famiglia Razzano, nella loro Azienda biologica. Sarà una magnifica scampagnata per famiglie, bambini ed amici. Ed un barattolo di miele è sempre un dolce regalo.

PROGRAMMA
10:00 -11:00 – Visite guidate alle arnie. Indosseremo le protezioni per vedere da vicino come le api vivono e sono curate nelle loro case di cera.
11:00 – 12:00 – Dimostrazione della raccolta del miele
12:00 – 13:00 – Preparazione delle marmellate. Gli ospiti potranno vedere e partecipare alle tradizionali confetture della prima frutta di stagione.
13:30 – Pranzo di 4 portate ed ottimo vino della casa
Relax dopo pranzo nei giardini, i piccoli troveranno giochi ed animali da avvicinare; oppure passeggiata in S. Agata.

Prezzi: Adulti 45,00 €  Bambini (6-12) 20,00 € Bambini (1-5) Gratuito

Per prenotare, o per maggiori dettagli telefonare 0823.953663, 347.1416866, 338.8802315 o contattateci qui

“Il miele, ancor più del vino, rispecchia un luogo. Se dal grappolo al bicchiere è un cammino di alchimia, allora dal fiore al vaso è uno di riflessione. Il nettare raccolto dall’ape è spirito ed essenza della pianta, il suo succo più dolce. Il miele è il fiore trasmutato, il suo profumo e bellezza cambiati in aroma e gusto.” -Stephanie Rosenbaum.

“Le api lavorano per l’uomo, eppure mai rovinano
Il fiore del padron; ma volate, lo lasciano,
Bello e sano come sempre;
Così insieme vive il fiore e scorre il miele.” - George Herbert

Ed infine, ma da non trascurare, meglio evitare di mettere profumo, quando si sta vicino alle api!

DIREZIONI PER S. AGATA DEI GOTI DA ROMA
1. Prendere l’Autostrada del Sole AI verso Napoli e uscire a CAIANELLO (125km dal casello di Roma Sud).
2. Prendere la SS 372 Telesina (prima destra) verso Benevento.
3. Dopo 35 km prendere l’uscita per S. Agata dei Goti e Napoli.
4. Siete sul Fondo Valle dell’Isclero  (Chiamateci a questo punto.  Mancano circa 15 minuti di strada)

5. Prendere l’uscita per Sant’Agata dei Goti.  Seguire questa strada fino all’ultima uscita, girare a sinistra e poi a destra.  Questa stradina vi porterà al bivio per l’Ape Regina (sulla destra) dopo circa un kilometro.

Rispettando tutti i limiti di velocità il tempo di percorrenza non supera 3 ore e mezza.

DA NAPOLI prendere l’Autostrada del Sole A1 verso nord e uscire a Caserta Sud.  Seguire indicazioni per Marcianise o Benevento.  Circa 1km seguire indicazioni verso destra per Benevento/Maddaloni/Telese.  Dopo 3.5 km uscire a destra per Benevento.  Dopo circa 4km girare a sinistra seguendo indicazioni per Telese/Sant’Agata dei Goti.  Dopo aver passati sotto l’Aquedotto Carolino, dopo circa 9km prendere la seconda uscita che indica Sant’Agata dei Goti. (chiamateci a questo punto.  Mancano circa 5 minuti)  Questa stradina vi porterà al bivio per l’Ape Regina (sulla destra) dopo circa un kilometro.

“That was the most inspirational trip I have been on! The time spent in Campania was the best food experience I have had in a long time.  I hope that we can get raw materials good enought ot really impact on flavours.”

“The tour was amazing and the experience one never to be forgot.”

“I thouroughly enjoyed it and learned so much.”

“Another really enjoyable programme.”

APRIL 17th, 24th and MAY 1st, 2010

(versione italiana)

Fresh, hot bread.  A rush of old memories.   Who can resist the smell of it, or the temptation to rush into the baker’s and buy a slab of hot pizza bianca?

My grandfather had a clever saying on how to remember where the sun rises and sets.  “It’s like bread”, he’d say in his thick yiddish accent. “It rises in the yeast and it sets behind the vest.”

Although small bakeries are getting harder to find in the big cities, we are fortunate to live in a part of Italy where people still make home-made bread that stays fresh for days, baked in their outdoor wooden-burning ovens.

And that’s an experience we’d like to share with you: a hands-on experience; kneading the dough, baking the pizzas and brushing off the loaves of casareccio - mixed with laughter, friendship and fine food.

With the collaboration the Mustilli family, famous for their exceptional Falanghina and Aglianico, Savour the Sannio invites you to spend a weekend in the region where, in addition to learning a few local recipes you will also taste the region’s superb wines.

My grandmother used to say, “If you can bake bread, you can make a living”. Come and learn from locals.

Calling all vegetarians! This is the perfect outing for you!

PROGRAM-Day One (Saturday)

-Arrival in Sant’Agata dei Goti and check-in at the Agriturismo Mustilli

-Welcome aperitivo in the gardens of the Mustilli home for a tasting of their latest wine: Spumante di Falanghina.

-Lunch and wine-tasting at Palazzo Rainone. Owner and enologist Leonardo Mustilli will explain the process of making wine today and guide us through a tasting of his renowned Falanghina and Aglianico.

-Visit to the 16th century wine cellars hewn into the tufa rock.

- Preparing the bread and kneading the dough.
- Cooking lesson: Pancotto.  A traditional recipe made with dried bread, vegetables and extravirgin olive oil.
-Preparation of the wood-burning oven and baking of the bread.
-Dinner with at the Mustilli wine bar

PROGRAM-Day Two (Sunday)
-Breakfast
-Visit to the outdoor market
-Guided tour of the city.

PRICE
Adults: 185,00 euro per person with double room occupancy
Children ages 0-3: Free  (you pay only for their meals)
Children ages 3-6: Half price.

Price includes:

- double room occupancy with breakfast
-Welcome aperitivo
- Three course lunch with bottled wine
- wine-tasting
- bread-baking and cooking lessons
- Visit to the Mustilli winery and wine museum
- Dinner and live entertainment
- personal guide and interpreter
- Guided tour of S. Agata dei Goti

Click here to read about last year’s tour.

To reserve your place contact Barbara Goldfield at barbaragoldfield@savourthesannio.com or call 0823.953663 or 347.1416866

This exclusive event is limited to no more than 8 people per date.  The B&B requires two weeks advance notice so please sign up immediately to reserve your place.
We must reach a minimum of 6 people to hold this event.

DIRECTIONS BY CAR TO S. AGATA DEI GOTI FROM ROME
1. take the AI motorway south towards Naples and exit at CAIANELLO (125km from the Roma Sud tollgate).
2. take the SS 372 Telesina (first right) towards Benevento.
3. after 35 km take the exit for S. Agata dei Goti and Naples.
4. you will now be on the Fondo Valle dell’Isclero  (call us at this point.  You are about 15 minutes away)
5. Take exit for Sant’Agata dei Goti.  Follow this road to its natural end, then take a left and then a right.  This winding road will take you to the central square of Sant’Agata where we will be waiting for you.

By respecting all the speed limits the trip should take no more that 3 1/2 hours.

FROM NAPLES take the A1 Motorway north and exit at Caserta Sud.  Follow the signs for Benevento and Telese. After passing the Carolino Aqueduct, take the second exit marked Sant’Agata dei Goti. (call us at this point.  You are about 5 minutes away)  Follow this road for 5 km, then turn left, cross the bridge to central square of Sant’Agata where we will be waiting for you.