San Vito Agritourism is located just a short distance outside the town of Spoleto; surrounded by 50 hectares of farmland. In the last few years, we have gone against current harmful farming techniques, and taken a step back in time, to rediscover the tastes, flavours and smells that have been practically eradicated by homogeneous influence of the food industry. To do this properly the Salvi family have gone organic and now run a certified organic farm.
Organic farming means that only natural substances are used to aid production and to treat produce. No chemical fertilisers or pesticides are used in the growing process and no non-natural preservatives are used to treat the food. Organic products are grown without any chemical enhancement and with total respect for the environment.
Breeding
The secret of producing good meat hinges principally on two factors. ‘clean' organic stock that is left free to rroam and graze in clean and uncontaminated pastures.
Organic stock is ensured by breeding all of the animals on the farm and feeding them with home produced organic animal feed, thereby ensuring that the final product is both healthy and natural.
In the summer, cows are sent up to the mountains to graze freely in pastures that are rich in a wide variety of natural vegetation and provides an environment that is particularly well suited to animal rearing.
The exceptionally high quality of cheeses and salamis you can taste at San Vito, are living proof that the fact that organic faming makes a huge difference to the taste and quality of the final product.
Olive oil
Without doubt you can find the best olive oil in the world in the Umbrian mountains, and more specifically in the hills between Spoleto and Assisi. Here the olive tree is an integral part of the landscape. Producing the finest quality extra virgin olive oil.
Due to it's taste and low acidity Umbrian olive oil is one of the most highly valued in Italy and consequently in the rest of the world. One of the characteristics that distinguish an oil of quality is the ratio of oleic to linoleic acid, the later of which must not have a content of less than 7. This balance is strongly influenced by the climate and distance from the sea. Whilst Umbrian oils are the best that Italy offers, after come those from Tuscany, Liguria, Le Marche and then those of the more Southern regions. Umbria is the only province to have its entire area split up into D.O.P (Italian guarantee of quality) oil producing regions. These include the five sub regions of Assisi, Spoleto, Colli Martani, Colli Amerine, Colli Orvietani and Colline del Trasimeno.
Many years ago, it was decided at San Vito to produce olives in a way that was sensitive to the ecosystems in which the olive trees are grown. As a result of this the oil that is produced is of an exceptionally high quality.
Harvesting takes place by hand, this ensures that only the best olives are sent to the press and all damaged or inadequate olives are discarded. After the olives have been collected they are driven a short distance from the farm to an olive press that is operated by experts that are trusted by the Salvi family. Anyone who visit's the farm during the harvest season can join in and see first hand this unforgettable harvesting process and experience way of life that once was. At the end of the procedure, the freshly pressed oil can be tasted on a slice of bread to reveal the magic that lies behind the delicious and succulent bruschetta.
Vines
The Umbrian region is very hilly and mountainous, the amount of flat plains is less than 6% of the province. This fact means that the area is perfect for growing vines. The cultivation of vines is widespread on smallholdings in the hilly areas; as result it has become an important wine producing area.
Relative to it's size Umbria plays an important role in wine production on a national level. San Vito has a vast vineyard which produces 2 D.O.C. (Italian guarantee of quality) wines; a Merlot - Sangiovese and a Trebbiano. During the harvest the grapes are all picked by hand, anyone who visit's the farm during this season can join in and watch the entire process of the producing these exceptional wines.
The fruits of the woodlands
At San Vito the emphasis is on natural simplicity, which is not to be confused with frugality. At our Agritourism the wild food that is found in the woods is added to the excellent core ingredients to give our food a unique and delicious flavour. At specific times during the year it is possible to collect a huge variety of food that grows naturally in the woodlands that surround the farm. These include truffles, wild asparagus and porcini mushrooms to name but a few. The Agritourism also has a swimming pool that is surrounded by unspoilt landscape. There are also mountain bikes, which guests are free to avail of if they want to. Those who are more sporty can enjoy our outdoor gym which is fully equipped with apparatus to help you unwind with healthy physical exercise in an a tranquil and pleasing setting The strategic location of San Vito means that it is easy to visit places that would be a shame to miss, such as sights like the medieval towns of Spoleto, Assisi, Perugia and the marble waterfalls of Terni. The sea is about an hour and a half away by car if you want to visit the Adriatic coast.
