Wine tasting at the Apicella winery

The most unusual part of this Amalfi Coast wine tasting is the short walk to A’ Scippata, the Apicella family’s pre-phylloxera vineyard. You get more than a glass at the cellar door: the visit connects old vines and local grape growing with the wines made from them.

I like two things in particular: the family history, which reaches back to Giuseppe Apicella’s first bottled vintage in 1977, and the chance to hear about the winemaking process before tasting. The local cheeses, cured meats, and toasted bread give the wines a useful regional context, too.

One point to weigh is the price: at $101.27 per person for about two hours, this is a focused private winery visit, not a full-day food tour. You’ll want to value the personal format and wine education, since the exact number and types of wines served are not specified.

What to know before you book

• A vineyard visit comes first: A’ Scippata is about five minutes on foot from the cellar.
• The winery has deep local roots: Giuseppe Apicella began bottling Tramonti red wine under his own label in 1977.
• You’ll hear how wine is made: The cellar visit covers red and white fermentation, stabilization, and ageing.
• The tasting includes local bites: Expect typical Tramonti products such as cheeses, cured meats, and toasted bread.
• It’s a private activity: Only your group takes part.
• Plan around the 11:30 start: The experience lasts about two hours and returns to its meeting point.

A family winery with a local story

Cantine Apicella is in Tramonti, inland from the coastal towns of Amalfi. The family had cultivated the land for generations, producing table wine before Giuseppe Apicella began bottling under his own label. The first marketed vintage, in 1977, was about 3,000 bottles of Tramonti red wine.

That beginning matters because this is not simply a tasting room built around a brand. Apicella is a historic name in Tramonti viticulture, and the winery’s story is closely tied to the area’s agricultural traditions. The family’s work also helps preserve local grape growing and the biodiversity associated with this rural part of the Amalfi Coast.

The family business has passed through generations. Its work is now carried on by Giuseppe’s family, including his sons and daughter. That continuity gives the visit a human thread: you can ask about techniques and production in the place where the family’s wine is made, rather than hearing only a polished brand story.

The experience is offered in English, and the activity is private, so your group is the only one participating. That can make it easier to ask questions and follow the explanation at your own pace, though the exact format and guide’s name are not specified.

Walking to the A’ Scippata vineyard

The visit begins at 11:30 at Cantine Apicella, then heads to the historic A’ Scippata family vineyard, around five minutes away on foot. This short walk is a practical but meaningful part of the experience. You see a working piece of the family’s agricultural history before hearing how the grapes become wine.

The vineyard is described as pre-phylloxera. That designation gives the stop particular interest for anyone curious about old vines and the long history of grape growing in the region. The family’s approach has been to maintain a traditional style of production, while the vineyard represents an important link to the area’s agricultural past.

Keep expectations grounded: this is a brief vineyard visit, not a long countryside hike or a full tour of several growing sites. Its value is in seeing the specific family vineyard and connecting it with the winery’s story. If you are mainly looking for dramatic views or a broad survey of Amalfi Coast wine country, the details provided do not promise either.

The five-minute walk is worth noting when planning your visit. You’ll need to be comfortable walking between the vineyard and cellar, but the distance itself is short. The tour begins and ends at the winery meeting point.

From grape growing to the cellar

After the vineyard, the visit moves to the cellar for an explanation of the production process. The topics include fermentation for red and white wines, stabilization, and ageing. Those steps help you understand what happens between harvest and bottle, and give the tasting a little more substance than simply sampling a flight.

The distinction between red and white fermentation is especially useful if you are new to winemaking. You can hear how the winery handles different styles, then taste wines that are in production. The experience does not specify which labels, grape varieties, or vintages will be poured, so it’s best to treat the tasting as an introduction to Apicella’s current work rather than a guaranteed sample of particular bottles.

There is also a practical benefit to visiting the cellar where the wine is made. You can ask about the production choices behind the wines while those processes are fresh in mind. The emphasis is on traditional methods and the family’s local practice, not on a generic lecture about wine.

The available details do not promise a technical masterclass, so don’t book expecting a deep study of every stage or a formal tasting course. Instead, think of it as a clear introduction to how this family winery works, with the chance to connect what you’ve seen in the vineyard to what is in your glass.

Tasting Tramonti wines with local food

The final part pairs wines in production with typical Tramonti products. The food includes cheeses, cured meats, and toasted bread. These are simple, useful companions to a tasting: they let you try the wines with familiar savory flavors rather than tasting wine in isolation.

The food is presented as a starter, not a full lunch. If you need a substantial meal, plan accordingly instead of assuming the tasting will replace one. The number of wines and the amount of food are not specified, so anyone comparing the price with a long lunch or an extensive wine flight should keep that in mind.

The food pairing is part of what makes the visit feel rooted in Tramonti. The wines are local, and the accompanying products help place them within the area’s food culture. One visitor described the bites and matching wines as enjoyable, while another praised the family atmosphere and the chance to learn about grape-growing techniques. Those points align with the experience’s strongest appeal: it joins practical explanation with a relaxed tasting.

The experience has a five-star rating from six reviews, a small sample but a consistently positive one. Praise focuses on the welcoming host, the beautiful vineyard and winery, the family-run character, the wine, and the useful explanation of cultivation methods. No host is named, so you should not expect a particular person to lead your visit.

Is $101.27 good value for two hours?

At $101.27 per person, this is not a low-cost stop for a quick glass of wine. You are paying for a private, approximately two-hour experience that combines a vineyard visit, a cellar explanation, a tasting, and local food. The price makes the most sense if you want context and conversation, not just a few pours.

The private format is a meaningful part of the value. Only your group participates, which avoids sharing the experience with a larger tour party. It does not guarantee a particular pace or a specific host, but it does make this a more personal option than a standard group tasting.

Compare it with what you want from a winery visit. If you are interested in family-run production, old vineyard history, and the steps behind red and white wines, the range of activities gives the two hours a clear purpose. If your priority is a long meal, a large tasting flight, or a guided tour of several vineyards, those details are not part of the stated experience.

The visit is popular enough that it is booked an average of 93 days ahead. That is a planning signal, not a guarantee that every date sells out. Still, if this winery is central to your plans, booking early is sensible.

Timing, location, and practical details

The meeting point is Cantine Apicella, Via Castello Santa Maria, 1, 84010 Tramonti. The tour starts at 11:30 a.m. and lasts about two hours, ending back at the same point. There is no transport arrangement specified, so check how you will reach the winery before committing to a time.

The activity is listed as available in English and uses a mobile ticket. Confirmation is provided at booking. Service animals are allowed, and the activity is described as suitable for most participants. You’ll still want to account for the short walk to the vineyard.

Weather matters. If poor conditions cause the experience to be canceled, you’ll be offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time; changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted.

Who should book this tasting?

I’d choose this visit if you care about the people and methods behind a wine as much as the wine itself. The family story, short vineyard walk, cellar explanation, and tasting make a well-connected two-hour introduction to Tramonti’s wine culture.

It suits couples, friends, and small family groups who want a private experience and are comfortable spending roughly $100 per person for a focused winery visit. Wine enthusiasts will appreciate the chance to ask about cultivation and production, while curious beginners can follow the process without needing prior knowledge.

I would look elsewhere if you want a full meal, a lengthy countryside excursion, or a guaranteed list of specific wines. Those are not promised here. But if a family-run winery, a historic vineyard, and local pairings sound like the right way to spend a late morning, Cantine Apicella offers a thoughtful taste of Tramonti.

FAQ

What time does the wine tasting start?

It starts at 11:30 a.m.

How long does the experience last?

The visit lasts about two hours.

Where does the tour meet and end?

It meets at Cantine Apicella, Via Castello Santa Maria, 1, 84010 Tramonti, and ends back at the same meeting point.

What does the experience include?

It includes a visit to the A’ Scippata family vineyard, a cellar visit and explanation of wine production, and a tasting of wines in production with typical Tramonti products.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates.

Can I cancel if my plans change?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund. If poor weather cancels the experience, you’ll be offered another date or a full refund.