L´astore Masseria in Solento, Italy

Is there a better thing to do than go wine tasting in Italy?! This 100 hectare estate is a reflection of its province built on the foundations of limestone bedrock, olive groves and grape growing. Paolo Benegiamo’s family has owned the masseria since 1930 and the feeling here is rustic and authentic. Bring on the wine!

We had the most wonderful experience tasting the wines, learning the history of the olive mill/winery and eating a seven course lunch. The mozzarella was freshly baked from the morning and simply melted in your mouth. The lovely woman of the estate cooked for us, she spoke no english, but you could tell the cooking came straight from the heart. So fresh with simple ingredients. The wines bounced of all flavours adding depth and intensity to the aftertaste. The wines here have been certified organic since 2010 where the focus is on negroamaro and primitivo blends. There were chickens in the backyard surrounding the old mill and the atmosphere was cozy and memorable. Both the wine and lunch were absolutely delicious and in the end, we ordered 30 bottles to be shipped back home with us. We had an amazing experience, a great day with wonderful people.

I’m wearing my new blue maxi dress that I bought from Otranto. It’s made out of silk and the lightness and waviness is quite spectacular. The texture reminds me of an Etro design, I love the paisley patterns and the mixture of aquatic colours. I feel the style of the dress suits the characteristic of the masseria and it works easily from day to night. Since then, I’ve worn it to a casual lunch and an evening out to a fancy resturant. I wanted to dress down otherwise, so I wore aviators, a ponytail, sandals and a small Chanel that effortlessly hung on my shoulders.