Considering a visit to Ischia from nearby Naples? Ischia is well worth a visit for their wine tours and local specialties. Across the island, you can expect extraordinary quality. That also goes for restaurants in Ischia, which are famous for their quality, flavors, views, and service.
The culture of the island is similar to Naples, with some variations in food and wine. It’s worth mentioning that wine is especially delicious on Ischia. The volcanic soil makes for excellent cultivation of both regional varieties and many varieties unique to the island.
Ischia’s traditional dishes
On Ischia you can find all the classic Neapolitan seafood dishes. The seafood pasta is especially good. We recommend trying anything allo scoglio, which indicates a mix of shellfish caught fresh. There are also some foods that are unique to the island that you will certainly want to try during your stay.
Coniglio all’ischitana
Because of its wild terrain, one of the main delicacies of Ischia is the coniglio all’ischitana. As the name says, it’s rabbit, cooked the way of the people of Ischia, or Ischitani. Tender pieces of wild rabbit are slow cooked with tomatoes and spices for a flavor that tastes just like you feel during your holidays on the island: perfect.
Where to try rabbit on Ischia
Every little village and area on the island has its own variation on the dish, but the base is always the same. By now, even the coastal restaurants serve coniglio, but in order to get a more rustic experience, we recommend that you head up slightly into the hills.
There, you’ll find some of the most authentic restaurants in Ischia, like Trattoria Il Focolare (Via Cretajo, 3) or Agriturismo Malvisiello (Via Santa Maria al Monte). Your best bet is to search for any agriturismo, which are small farms with restaurants.
Zingara
For a quick lunch in Ischia, many locals opt for a zingara. It’s a simple but delicious sandwich of crusty bread with fiordilatte (mild mozzarella), tomatoes, lettuce, and prosciutto. It’s what we would call a grilled panino.
It was invented in the 70’s by one of the island’s coffee bars, and has become ubiquitous on all restaurants in Ischia. It’s a great beach-day lunch!
Cornetto all’ischitana
Moving backwards to breakfast in Ischia, a cornetto all’ischitana is definitely the best choice on the island. It’s a combination of a croissant and brioche with different filling options, like pastry cream or nutella.
It was first invented by the Pasticceria Fratelli Calise (Via F. Regine Avv., 25), but you can find it in any good pastry shop or coffee bar on the island.
Rucolino: Arugula liqueur
Before we get into the various amazing Ischian wines, we’d be remiss to overlook Rucolino. Love it or hate it, it’s a mainstay on the island.
Rucolino is a bright green digestif made of arugula. Yes, you read that right. Wild arugula grows abundantly on the island. It has been used for generations to make this liqueur. It’s bitter and herbaceous, and people in Ischia drink it after a heavy meal to improve digestion.
Give it a shot after a delicious meal in any restaurant in Ischia, especially after a traditional coniglio. It pairs well with desserts, especially those that are chocolate-based, as the bitterness of the arugula complements the sweetness of the chocolate.
The alcohol content of Rucolino typically ranges between 20-30%, making it a relatively strong liqueur. It is a unique and flavorful representation of Ischia’s tradition of crafting herbal liqueurs, making it a a perfect souvenir to bring back a taste of the island!
Ischia wine guide
Let’s get into the wines of Ischia. In general, you can easily detect mineral notes in all wines of Ischia, because of the volcanic soil. They’re easily drinkable, and tend to be on the lighter but flavorful side.
Types of wine on Ischia
The most common whites are Ischia Bianco DOC, Biancolella, and Forastera. For reds there are Ischia Rosso DOC and Piedirosso, also known as Per’ ‘e Palummo in dialect. Fun fact: Per’ ‘e Palummo means pigeon foot, because the vine leaves resemble the shape of pigeon feet.
There’s also a delicious Ischia Bianco spumante, or sparkling wine. Some other common blends are Epomeo Rosso and Epomeo Bianco. These are grown on the slopes of Mount Epomeo, the highest volcanic mountain of the island.
Experiences on Ischia: Wine tastings and tours
Ischia is such a great destination for wine lovers because of the high number of producers on the island that offer tastings and tours. Tours usually include a walk in the vineyards, an explanation and tasting of several wines, and some local bites to eat, often grown on the farm, or nearby.
Ischia wine producers
Four of the best wine producers on the island are Casa D’Ambra, Tommasone, Cenatiempo, and Pietratorcia. All of them offer tours, and any one of these wine experiences will give you a real feel of the island, and a chance to enjoy the fresh air and delicious hyper-local wine.
How to visit Ischia wineries
The best way to book wine tours on Ischia is directly by email, which you can find on each website. We recommend asking ahead of time about the availability of English tours, and the types and prices of tours offered, which can vary by season and year.
Ischia Food & Wine FAQ
Why is Ischia special?
Ischia is the largest island off the coast of Naples, and is often referred to as the Isola Verde for its lush landscape. It’s a volcanic island, originally settled by the Greeks around 770 B.C. The unique history, cuisine, and landscape make Ischia a destination well worth visiting.
You already know what Naples is known for. Nearby Ischia makes for an exciting visit, in particular for their wine tours and local culinary specialties. If you go, don’t miss out on the best food and restaurants in Ischia!
What is the best time of year to visit Ischia?
Keep in mind that Ischia gets really hot in the summer. If you’re visiting during summer, make sure to stay hydrated – especially during a winery visit!
The best time to visit Ischia is the cooler fall, around harvest time. The spring is also a great time to visit. If you’re traveling to Ischia and Naples during Christmas time, keep an eye out for the Presepe and other traditions.
Wait, what is Rucolino?
Rucolino is a distinctive Italian herbal liqueur that originates from the island of Ischia. This liqueur is renowned for its unique flavor profile, which is derived from a primary ingredient: arugula (known as “rucola” in Italian).
The liqueur is made from the infusion of arugula leaves, which gives it a characteristic herbal and slightly bitter taste. The arugula imparts a green hue to the liqueur. The production process involves macerating arugula leaves in alcohol, along with other botanicals and spices. After a period of infusion, the mixture is sweetened and sometimes aged to develop its flavors further.
Rucolino is traditionally enjoyed as a digestif, sipped after meals to aid digestion. It can be served neat, over ice, or used as an ingredient in cocktails.