Matera Gourmet Picnic: Olive Grove Wine & Cheese Experience

Sit among centuries-old olive trees and eat your way through Basilicata's flavors without lifting a finger.

A gourmet picnic set up entirely for you in a private 350-year-old certified olive grove near Matera, where you walk among ancient trees, taste Podolic cheeses, cured meats, Matera bread and organic oils, and drink Aglianico del Vulture red wine while resting on pillows or swinging in a hammock. The experience lasts about two hours but moves at your own pace, with views of the Little Lucanian Dolomites and Mantenera Forest. A second option adds a BBQ to the picnic menu.

The experience

You arrive at a private olive grove away from road noise and crowds. After a short walk through the trees, the picnic is already laid out for you near the Majatica, a 350-year-old olive tree that is a certified Patriarch Lucan. Everything is ready: blankets, pillows, a hammock if you want to swing, and the food and wine waiting on the spread. The location is quiet enough that you hear only birdsong and wind through the leaves.

The menu centers on what this region produces. You taste Podolic cheeses from wild-bred cows (provolone, ricotta, mozzarella) alongside Tricaricesi salami in three styles, then focaccia and the famous bread of Matera to go with the estate's own organic oils, a Slow Food Presidium product. Olives, taralli crackers, and a homemade jam tart round it out. A 75 ml bottle of Aglianico del Vulture, the red wine symbol of Basilicata, comes with the picnic. Bottled water is included, and children under 21 do not receive alcohol. You eat and rest at whatever pace suits you: some people linger two hours, others longer.

The grove sits in a private pocket with unobstructed views of the Little Lucanian Dolomites and Mantenera Forest across the valley. You are free to walk among the olive trees between courses, rest in the hammock, or simply sit and watch the landscape. If you have limited mobility, the operator can drive you to the picnic site. Children from age 2 are welcome, and strollers and specialized infant seats are available. The experience is wheelchair accessible, and service animals are allowed.

What’s included

• Bottled water.
• Podolic cheeses (provolone, ricotta, mozzarella).
• Tricaricesi cured meats (suppressata, spicy and sweet salami, pezzente sausage).
• focaccia and bread from Matera.
• Mantenera organic oils and Slow Food Presidium olives.
• taralli crackers.
• homemade jam tart.
• 75 ml bottle of Aglianico del Vulture red wine.
• blankets, pillows and hammock for resting.
• access to the private 350-year-old certified olive grove.

Options for this experience

2 options

Picnic beneath the olive treesGuide in English, French or Portuguese · Available from 22 Nov · 12:00 and 17:00Typical local products picnic: a selection of regional foods enjoyed under the olive trees, all-inclusive

Picnic beneath the olive trees with BBQGuide in English, French or Portuguese · Available from 22 Nov · 12:00 and 17:00BBQ: freshly grilled pork and lamb, served alongside the all-inclusive picnic cooked over olive wood

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 12:00 and 17:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 to 69 years) · Senior (70 to 90 years) · Youth (9 to 17 years) · Child (2 to 8 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Mantenera

Is this one for you?Book this if you have a free afternoon and want to eat well without any setup or cleanup. Everything is arranged, and you move through the meal at your own pace. The two-hour window is long enough to taste everything and rest among the trees, but short enough to fit into a day exploring Matera itself.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, French and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (9 to 17 years); Child (2 to 8 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly comes in the picnic basket?

The picnic includes a selection of Podolic cheeses (provolone, ricotta, mozzarella), Tricaricesi cured meats (suppressata, spicy and sweet salami, pezzente sausage), focaccia and bread from Matera, the grove's organic oils, olives, taralli crackers, a homemade jam tart, a 75 ml bottle of Aglianico del Vulture red wine, and bottled water.

How long do I spend in the olive grove?

The experience lasts about two hours, but you set the pace. You can stay longer if you want to linger over the food and the views, or move through it more quickly. There is no fixed schedule once you arrive.

Is the grove really quiet, or will I hear traffic?

The picnic site is in a private location away from road noise, with only the sounds of nature and birdsong. It sits in an undisturbed pocket of the grove with views across the valley to the Little Lucanian Dolomites and Mantenera Forest.

What is the difference between the two picnic options?

The standard Picnic Under The Olive Trees includes the full gourmet spread with wine. The Picnic Under Olive Trees + BBQ adds a barbecue component to the menu, so you can choose whichever suits your appetite.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the grove?

Transport is not included in the picnic price, but the operator can arrange a private driver if you need one. Ask when you book.