Jomar B.
Google
We stayed at Vinillia Wine Resort from July 27th to 29th. It took me some time to write this review in order to fully process my impressions and provide an unbiased account.
The property is beautiful and elegant, situated in a somewhat isolated area of Manduria—an environment that offers peace and tranquility, as one would expect from a masseria. Our accommodation was located on the top floor of the castle, accessible solely via stairs. The room was spacious and comfortable; however, the air conditioning unit was somewhat undersized, positioned inside a balcony, which diminished its efficiency and generated more noise than usual. While we did not feel overly hot, guests who prefer a cooler sleeping environment with blankets might find this setup inadequate. The bathroom, though large, was somewhat stuffy and lacked proper ventilation or an exhaust fan.
The pool area was lovely, providing a serene setting; however, the bar service appeared quite limited. I attempted to order from the bar once; upon approaching the counter and inquiring about the menu—since none was visibly displayed—I was informed that the bar was closing, and the restaurant as the priority (it was 7:50 PM). While I understand closing times, a more accommodating attitude from the staff—such as showing the menu or offering a drink—would have been appreciated.
The most disappointing aspect of our stay was breakfast. The offerings were limited and simplistic, consisting of only basic items. There was no menu, nor were any specialities from the kitchen available, such as scrambled eggs or omelets. Furthermore, considering the resort’s branding as a “Wine Resort,” the wine experience was notably absent: no sparkling wine, no complimentary wine or welcome drink, and surprisingly, no olive oil or focaccia—staples of Puglia’s culinary heritage.
Overall, we left with the impression that there was considerable pretense rather than substance, and the value for the price paid was not commensurate. We experienced a sense of superficial elegance that did not fully meet our expectations.