Ep. 2837 Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio: The Story Behind Vesuvius' Unique Tomato with Pasquale Imperato | Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon

Welcome to Episode 2837 of the Italian Wine Podcast and Episode 269 of Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon. In this episode, Marc speaks with Pasquale Imperato of Sapori Vesuviani, a Vesuvian grower and champion of the Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio, about the story behind this unique tomato. Together, they explore the tomato's history, the biodiversity of the slopes of Mount Vesuvius and the unique combination of volcanic soils and maritime influences that gives it its distinctive flavour. Pasquale explains what makes this tomato special, including its remarkable ability to stay fresh for almost a year, and discusses its export potential and how its flavours evolve over time. Pasquale also offers an experiential farm tour called “Let’s Have a Diet… Mediterranean,” a 1.5–2-hour introduction to the Mediterranean diet and the traditional products of the Vesuvian region. The experience includes a visit to the farm, a hands-on workshop where participants create their own traditional piennolo (hanging bunch of tomatoes), and a tasting of bruschetta topped with Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio. A wonderful opportunity to discover local food traditions firsthand! More about the guest: Sapori Vesuviani is a family-run biodynamic farm located on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, within Vesuvius National Park. Dedicated to preserving the agricultural heritage of the region, the farm combines traditional cultivation methods with artisanal processing to produce local specialties, including Pomodorino del Piennolo del Vesuvio DOP, Vesuvian apricots, seasonal vegetables, jams and preserves. With a strong focus on seasonality, sustainability and short supply chains, Sapori Vesuviani celebrates the authentic flavours and gastronomic identity of Vesuvius. Its philosophy is captured in the motto riscoprire i sapori di un tempo — rediscovering the flavours of the past. Connect: Website: https://www.saporivesuviani.it Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saporivesuviani/?hl=it Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pasquale.imperato2 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pasquale-imperato-5b505b3b/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR9Tpt6rGBAaYh7z59rXkpw More about the host: Marc Millon, a VIA Italian Wine Ambassador since 2021, is an award-winning author of 15 books on wine, food, and travel, and host of the ‘Wine, Food, and Travel with Marc Millon’ weekly series, now well over 220 episodes. His latest book, “Italy in a Wineglass – the Taste of History,” won the Guild of Food Writers’ 2025 Drinks Writer Award and the World Gourmand’s 2025 Best Wine History Book award. Marc also hosts gastronomic cultural tours to Italy with Martin Randall Travel and lives along the River Exe in Devon, England. Connect: Website: https://www.marcmillon.co.uk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-millon-50868624/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Marc_Millon More interviews on Wine, Food & Travel: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/episodes_category/food-travel/ _______________________________ Let’s keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mammajumboshrimp If you feel like helping us, donate here: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/ Until next time, Cin Cin! Thanks for listening! This show is all about food and wine pairings, and traveling through Italy with Marc. Join him on this food, wine and cultural journey!