Summer on the estate

As we leave England for Italy, family and friends say: “Have a nice time!” Or, more often than not: “Enjoy your holiday!” Little do they know we’ll be up with the lark at 5.30am to work in the vines before it gets too hot. But I guess that’s what living the life is all about, and we’re always so grateful to be here in this beautiful spot.

At this time of year, Casa Sant’ Elia is all about guests, gardens and grapes. The olives, pruned in May, are now thankfully looking after themselves after each being gifted a treat of 5kg of manure. All 500 of them!

The olive harvest in October is one of our favourite times of the year on the estate. No intense heat, and a time for the family to get together. If our daughter Chloe was here, she’d say: “It’s also time for a sausage casserole.” The recipe always varies, because it’s in my head, but it always includes lots of locally-grown lentils and the pickers love it. I’ll share the recipe with you come October.

After our early start this morning, we went to order more olive oil bottles from our supplier for delivery in the autumn. We have to order now because the whole of Italy goes on holiday for all of August, to soak up the sun at the beach.

From there, we called into one of our favourite local osterias for what we call ‘a working man’s lunch’. Really, it’s the menu del giorno and there’s a choice of three primi, usually pasta dishes, together with three secondi, usually meat dishes – unless it’s a Friday. The cost always amazes us. I always have pasta, Jerry the carnivore goes for meat. Those two courses with two side dishes, bread, water, a glass of wine and coffee cost just €22 for both of us!

So tonight, as the sun sets and the temperature drops, it’ll be local cheeses and home-grown fruit from our neighbouring fruiterer for supper, perhaps with a cooling Aperol. Now that really is living the life.