Sorrento: Olive Oil Tasting Tour & Private Pickup

Summary

Family-run olive mill tastings with Sorrento flavors and stories

You’ll walk ancient Sorrento groves with a local family, sample up to 15 unique olive oils (plus vinegars and marmalades), dip fresh bread, and finish with homemade liqueurs — all with private pickup included. Expect laughter, honest stories, and flavors that linger long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

“You can eat the leaves if you’re really desperate,” joked Antonio as he handed me a sprig from one of his oldest olive trees. I’d barely stepped out of the van when I realized this wasn’t just some staged olive oil tasting in Sorrento — it felt more like dropping in on someone’s family ritual. The air was thick with that green, peppery scent you only get near real groves, and there was a low hum of bees somewhere off to the right. I tried to say grazie for the ride but probably mumbled it; Antonio just grinned and waved us toward the little path between the trees.

We wandered under branches that looked older than most cities, our guide (I think her name was Lucia?) explaining how her grandfather used to pick olives by hand before machines took over. She let us crush a few between our fingers — sticky, almost bitter — and told us about how Sorrento’s weather makes their oil different from what you find further south. I didn’t expect to taste so many types: lemon, truffle, even cinnamon. Some were sharp, some sweet — we dipped hunks of bread into each one until my hands were oily and my notes just turned into smiley faces. Lucia laughed when I asked if anyone ever mixes all 15 together (“That would be chaos!”). The balsamic vinegars came next, then marmalades that smelled like summer mornings.

I’m not sure if it was the limoncello at the end or just being surrounded by people who clearly cared about what they made, but there was this warmth — not just from the sun. Before leaving, they nudged us to try their olive oil soap (which honestly smells better than half my perfumes). Even now, back home, whenever I open my kitchen cupboard and catch a whiff of good oil, I remember Antonio’s hands showing me how to tell if it’s real or not. That stuck with me.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Olive oil tasting and tour in Sorrento

• Driver collects you from accommodation
• Meet staff and visit olive groves
• Learn olive oil making process and history
• Sample 15 types of olive oil
• Taste balsamic vinegars, marmalades, and honey
• Try homemade liqueurs and cream liqueurs
• Visit cosmetic line made with olive oil

Top questions

How many types of olive oil do you taste on this tour?

You can sample up to 15 different types of extra virgin olive oil during the tasting.

Is transportation included in this Sorrento olive oil tasting?

Yes, private pickup from your accommodation on the Sorrentine Peninsula is included.

Are there other tastings besides olive oil?

Yes, you'll also try balsamic vinegars, citrus marmalades, honey, and homemade liqueurs like limoncello.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the experience is wheelchair accessible according to the organizers.

Can infants join this olive oil tasting tour?

Infants are welcome; they can ride in a pram or stroller or sit on an adult’s lap.

How long does the tasting experience last?

The exact duration isn’t specified but expect enough time for grove walks and multiple tastings.

Where does the tour start?

Your driver will collect you directly from your accommodation in the Sorrentine Peninsula area.

Do they offer flavored oils during the tasting?

Yes—besides classic extra virgin oils you'll try flavored varieties such as lemon, truffle, chili and cinnamon.

What’s included

Your day includes private transportation from your hotel in Sorrento or nearby towns, guided walks through centuries-old olive groves with staff explanations in English or Italian, tastings of up to 15 extra virgin olive oils (including DOP and flavored kinds), plenty of fresh bread for dipping, samples of balsamic vinegar glazes and local citrus marmalades plus homemade limoncello and cream liqueurs before heading back home.