A TRIP TO NORCIA, ITALY, WITH PLYMOUTH GIN

I know it’s starting to look like I’m developing an obsession with Italy but in October last year I travelled there again, this time with Plymouth Gin. To be fair with each trip to Italy, I fall in love more and more. On my most recent visit I travelled into Norcia for 2 nights, exploring the local area and the surrounding Umbrian Hills.

We visited Italy with one main goal in mind, to hand pick juniper berries for a very exciting Plymouth Gin project launching next year. For those who didn’t know, there’s no gin without juniper berries. Junipers are the main ingredient of any gin. Although juniper berries grow in different parts of the world, Italy happens to be an ideal place because of the weather. In the gin production process, all the importance is placed on the oil content which is best in warmer climates, hence the Umbrian Hills.

Norcia is located in the south-eastern part of Umbria. It’s a town with so much history as it was a part of the ancient roman empire. Sadly, a lot of the ancient buildings were ruined in 2016 when a large earthquake hit the region. The town is being rebuilt but is still beautiful nonetheless.

Our first day was spent exploring Norcia, getting an intro to the history of Plymouth gin (who have been producing gin since 1793!) and of course getting a taste for local Italian food. Norcia is famous for their truffle and sausages, so you’ll find restaurant menus heavily containing both ingredients. There’s a big reason for it so make sure you try both if you visit, the food is delicious.

We stayed at the Palazzo Seneca, a cute local hotel and one of the only ones that survived the earthquake. The hotel is very homely and historic with a lot of character. You also get beautiful views of the hills from the hotel.

Our second day was spent in the beautiful Umbrian Hills where we once again got lucky with the weather given that we travelled at the end of October. In just under an hour we reached the hills in Frontignano. I was in awe from the moment we stepped outside of the car thanks to the beautiful green hills on one side and snowy mountains on the other. The contrast in landscape was simply stunning. The air up in the mountain was so refreshing.

We were joined by local juniper experts who have been picking wild juniper berries for generations. We took a walk through the peaceful hills until we reached the juniper bushes. The locals showed us the right junipers to pick as the berries used for gin must be properly ripened.

With our introduction we jumped straight into picking juniper berries which can be done in two main ways: beating the juniper bushes or picking the berries by hand (with gloves of course). Needless to say, it was a lot harder than it looked due to endless spikes hiding in the bushes. However it was also such a relaxing experience, especially with the sun shining. There’s just something so peaceful about being out in the wild nature. I have a newfound respect for the locals who pick the berries each season and for the work that goes into the gin that we drink.

Crush the berries in your hand to release the flavour, it smells just like gin! We got to try so many varieties of Plymouth Gin in cocktails and I have to say I’m a fan. It’s such a smooth and versatile gin.

Visiting Norcia and the Umbrian Hills has been the most authentic Italian experience I’ve had thus far. It was a trip full of culture, great food, drinks and lots of new knowledge. Stay tuned to see what we do with these same juniper berries next March back in England!

Thank you Plymouth Gin and the team for such a fantastic trip.

This post is a sponsored by Plymouth Gin but all opinions remain my own.