This Winery Is Permanently Closed.
Winery Rating
Located at:
Via Giambattista Lama, 16/18, 84010 Furore SA
Wine Club Rating
Price Range For Tasting
Founded in 1980, Cantine Marisa Cuomo traces its beginnings to a personal gesture: Andrea Ferraioli gifted his family’s vineyards to his wife, Marisa, marking the start of a winemaking project that would come to define Furore. From the outset, the winery focused on indigenous grapes and vineyard expressions shaped by the vertical topography of the Amalfi Coast.
The estate has earned recognition not only for its wines but also for its approach. Viticulture here is often referred to as “heroic,” due to the steep, manually tended terraces that demand intensive labor. Vineyards are planted on slopes exceeding 50 percent grade, carved into cliffs that descend toward the sea. This extreme setting encourages low yields, high flavor concentration, and a marked maritime influence in the wines.
Over the past four decades, the winery has helped revive near-forgotten varieties like Ginestra and Peppella, integrating them into blends that are distinctly tied to the region’s terrain and climate. The focus remains on preserving local identity while employing precise winemaking techniques.
Luigi Moio oversees winemaking at the estate. With over two decades of research in wine aroma and sensory science, Moio brings an academic rigor to production. He is a professor of oenology at the University of Naples Federico II and holds leadership positions in international wine institutions, including the OIV. His work emphasizes flavor stability, aromatic development, and the biochemical interplay between grape variety and environment.
This scientific foundation is visible in the wines, which are noted for their clean profiles, structural clarity, and consistent typicity across vintages. Fermentation and maturation practices are fine-tuned to preserve the characteristics of the coastal terroir, often avoiding overt oak in favor of freshness and aromatic lift.
The PropertyThe estate occupies one of the more striking viticultural sites in Italy. Nestled into the cliffs around 500 meters above sea level, the vineyards overlook the Gulf of Salerno, with plantings arranged across ancient stone terraces. The soils are composed primarily of dolomitic-limestone, with good drainage and mineral content.
Sun exposure and diurnal temperature shifts are moderated by sea breezes, which help control ripening and preserve acidity. White varietals, such as Fenile and Ripoli, tend to thrive in the upper terraces where exposure is more intense. Reds, including Aglianico and Piedirosso, are often planted lower, where conditions allow for deeper ripening and more robust tannic structure.
Tastings at the winery are available by reservation only and are typically priced between $80 and $120. Visitors can expect a guided tour of the cellar, including a walk along the terraces when weather permits. Tastings are structured to highlight both single-varietal bottlings and regional blends, with commentary on vinification methods and vineyard management.
Depending on the season, tasting lineups may include white blends marked by saline acidity and citrus tones, or red wines with notes of black cherry, dried herbs, and dusty earth. The wines often show restrained fruit expression, with firm acid and well-resolved tannins that hint at long-term aging potential.
Just across the narrow road from the winery lies Hostaria Baccofurore. Reaching the restaurant requires a slow drive through hairpin turns and quiet hamlets, but the payoff comes in the form of expansive sea views and a focused menu of local ingredients. Seafood, lemons, wild herbs, and handmade pastas appear frequently, often paired with selections from the winery next door.
Nearly all of the guest rooms have views overlooking the coast, and the restaurant’s atmosphere reflects both the simplicity and intensity of the landscape. The pairing menus change seasonally, making use of what’s available in the surrounding area. It’s an appropriate follow-up to a day immersed in the region’s viticulture.
Cantine Marisa Cuomo offers more than just a dramatic backdrop. Its wines represent a confluence of local grape heritage, extreme vineyard conditions, and scientifically grounded winemaking. While the setting draws attention, the structure and clarity of the wines ensure they hold their place among the more serious bottlings from southern Italy. With a visit that combines geological drama, academic winemaking, and coastal cuisine, the experience is rooted in both site and substance.
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