Villa Massa Limoncello facts for kids
Villa Massa (30% alc/vol) is a brand of limoncello (sweet lemon liqueur) produced in the Sorrento peninsula of the region of Campania, Italy.
History
The production company for Villa Massa was founded in 1991 by brothers Stefano and Sergio Massa, from Sorrento. The recipe for the liqueur Villa Massa has its origins in 1890 from a family recipe, made with fresh lemons from the Massa family grove.The Villa Massa estate, one of the agricultural and residential properties of the Massa family, is found in the Piano di Sorrento, in the center of the Sorrentine peninsula near the city of Naples.
In 2000, the oval lemons of Sorrento (in Italian, limone di Sorrento) used in the production of Villa Massa Limoncello were registered as a Protected Geographical Indication (P.G.I.) by the European Union. In 2006, the liqueur made from these lemons was registered as "Liquore di Limone di Sorrento".
Since 2006, the company is part of the family owned Grupo Zamora S.L.U.
Production
The lemons are hand-picked, and within 24 hours of harvesting are peeled to obtain a very fine layer of zest, reducing the extraction of white pith as much as possible to prevent the liqueur from having an excessively bitter after-taste.
The zest is then macerated in alcohol, to allow the oils of the skin to impregnate the flavors and aromas characteristic of this limoncello. After a few days, the infusion is strained and filtered several times at a constant temperature, mixed with purified water and sugar, then bottled.
Cocktails
It is traditionally drunk ice cold as an aperitivo or digestivo if mixed with other ingredients like sparkling water or prosecco and herbs like basil.
Villa Massa Tonica
Villa Massa Tonica is made of Villa Massa limoncello, tonic water and basil. It can be served as a fresh drink or aperitivo.
Awards
- Bronze – IWSC Villa Massa Limoncello (2015).
- Villa Massa has been awarded with 92 points "Excellent and highly recommended" at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2015.
- Villa Massa receives the Gold Medal as best product at the 56° edition of "China National Sugar and Alcoholic Commodities Fair” (2011).
- Villa Massa is rewarded as runner-up at the "Confindustria Awards for Excellence – Andrea Pininfarina 2010" in the category "Champion Enterprise for the development of the territory" (2010).
- Villa Massa wins the “National Award for Innovation”, along with other 26 companies leaders for innovation belonging to several sectors: Industry and Services, University, Public Administration, Tertiary Sector (2009)
- Certified company of the Italian Customs Agency (2008)
- EFQM Excellence Award Winner (2007)
- EFQM Excellence Award Prize Winner (2006)
- European Quality Award finalist (2005)
- Silver – Internationaler Spirituosen Wettbewerb (2005)
- Villa Massa receives the Italian edition of the "Quality Award" (2003)
- The Bureau Veritas Quality International Italy S.r.l. certifies that Villa Massa's Quality Management System is in compliance with the new ISO 9001: 2000 regulations (Vision 2000) (2002)
- "Sorrento nel Mondo" prize (2000).
- The Bureau Veritas Quality International Italy and another 5 international organs recognise Villa Massa's production system as conforming to the requisites of international quality regulation ISO 9002 (2000).
- Served to the Spanish Prime Minister Aznar at the dinner held at the Circolo Savoia in Naples 1998, Villa Massa is placed on the menu to be served to the Spanish Royal Family (1998)
- On the occasion of the XXII Awards for Work and Economic Progress, Villa Massa receives the Diploma with Gold Medal (1997).
- Selected for cabin service of the Alitalia fleet (1995)
- Villa Massa Lemon Liqueur served at the lunches and dinners during the G7 summit in Naples (1994)
- The Gourmet Retailer Magazine Certificate of Excellence (1991)
See also
In Spanish: Limoncello para niños
