Villa Massa Limoncello

Villa Massa (30% alc/vol) is a brand of limoncello (sweet lemon liqueur) produced in the Sorrento peninsula of Italy.

Villa Massa, founded in 1991 by brothers Stefano and Sergio Massa, is the Italian manufacturer of the traditional lemon liqueur from Sorrento, also known as limoncello. From 2006, the company is part of the family owned Grupo Zamora S.L.U.

History

The traditional Liquore di Limone di Sorrento Villa Massa has its origins in a family recipe that goes back to 1890 when the Massa family used to offer their guests a liqueur made with fresh lemons from the family grove; Faithfully conserving and respecting the ancient family recipe, the brothers Stefano and Sergio Massa, decided in 1991 to create the company that carries the name of the family estate.

The Villa Massa estate, one of the agricultural and residential properties of the Massa family, historically rooted in the zone, is found in Piano di Sorrento, in the very heart of the Sorrentine peninsula near the city of Naples.

In the year 2000, the oval lemons of Sorrento (in Italian, limone di Sorrento) used in the production of Villa Massa Limoncello gained the acknowledgement of Protected Geographical Indication (P.G.I.) by the European Union. In 2006, the liqueur made from these lemons also gained recognition as its own category: "Liquore di Limone di Sorrento". Only these manufacturers are allowed to utilize the seal for this accolade, feature the name "Sorrento" on their bottle or use the imagery depicting the region.

Production

After being hand-picked, the lemons are carefully transported to prevent even the slightest damage and, within a maximum of 24 hours of harvesting, they 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 essential oils of the skin to impregnate with it with all the flavors and aromas that are characteristic of the limoncello. After a few days, the infusion is ready to be strained and filtered several times, at a constant temperature, and mixed with purified water and sugar.

It then needs to rest for the correct amount of time, and the corresponding quality control is carried out before it reaches the bottling stage.

Certificates & identifications

• Kosher (only for Israel)
• P.G.I .lemons (Protected Geographical Indication)
• Gluten free
• Suitable for vegan
• Premium sugar beet based alcohol
• Allergen (ex dir. 2003/89/CE) free
• Pure refined Italian sugar
• GMO Free product

Cocktails

It is traditionally drunk ice cold as a digestivo or also as an aperitivo if mixed with other ingredients like sparkling water or prosecco and herbs like basil.

Villa Massa Tonica

History

Villa Massa Tonica was naturally created out of the fashion of tonic water being mixed with other spirits.

This serve is usually presented as a fresh drink to be consumed in restaurants and bars as aperitivo.

Villa Massa Tonica is made of Villa Massa limoncello, tonic water and basil.

Awards

2015

• Bronze – IWSC Villa Massa Limoncello
• Villa Massa has been awarded with 92 points "Excellent and highly recommended" at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2015 organized by the site ultimate-beverage.com

2011

• Villa Massa receives the Gold Medal as best product at the 56° edition of "China National Sugar and Alcoholic Commodities Fair”

2010

• 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"

2009

• 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

2008

• Certified company of the Italian Customs Agency

2007

• EFQM Excellence Award Winner

2006

• Prize Winner EFQM Excellence Award

2005

• Villa Massa is one of the finalists for the European Quality Award
• Silver – Internationaler Spirituosen Wettbewerb

2003

• Villa Massa receives the Italian edition of the coveted "Quality Award"

2002

• 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)

2001

• Receives the official thanks of the Italian Culinary Academy

2000

• Wins the "Sorrento nel Mondo" prize.

1999

• 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

1998

• Chosen for the menu to be 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

1997

• Receives recognition and thanks from the Italian Embassy to the United States of America
• On the occasion of the XXII Awards for Work and Economic Progress, Villa Massa receives the Diploma with Gold Medal.

1995

• Villa Massa becomes part of the cabin service of the Alitalia fleet

1994

• Villa Massa Lemon Liqueur is chosen to be served at the lunches and dinners during the G7 summit in Naples as witness to the taste and quality of the characteristic products of the Mediterranean tradition

1991

• The Gourmet Retailer Magazine confers on the company the Certificate of Excellence