I came to Campania for wine and family history and a birthday present to myself. My last day in…read moreItaly, my Wine Check was four bottles light. This cannot happen. So I asked a man I met while traveling for some bottles I should bring back. He gave me a few producers as well as a few of his favorite bottles. Vintage and maker. I set out to find a wine shop, not a grocery store. I planned to spend a reasonable amount of money, €30-€50 a bottle. I saw a sign on the main street in quartieri spagnoli that just said "enoteco" I believe. It was brown. It was hot. The streets are steep. I had no cell signal and figured... What the hell. So up I went. And up. And up. And there it was. My Italian is pitiful, limited to basics and things you learn when your grandmother is angry at you. I walked in and the man working the shop greeted me. I asked if he spoke English, he did, very little. I explained I was looking for local wines, the varietals, and that a friend had given suggestions. He pointed out the two specific bottles on my list he had, then I asked him for recommendations on two more. As any good wine monger (my preferred term, don't judge. It makes me smile) should, he asked how much I was looking to spend, and if I liked this or that (or acidic or buttery whites, big structure or more supple reds.). Then he pulled down the bottles and told me I wanted these. I paid him, thanked him, and was on my way, back in the heat with my four bottles procured. Overall, the shop is tight. And packed. And the guy seemed knowledgeable enough. English, for an American with terrible Italian, was quite adequate. I will come here if I'm ever in Napoli again. Only complaint, and it's a small one... He put four 75cl bottles in a single plastic bag. When you are walking, A: that's heavy and a bit unruly. B: the bottles clanked constantly. I'm used to the individual bottles at least having paper to keep them from smashing against each other. I managed, and it was a good experience. Check this place out!

From the owner: Un ambiente curato nei minimi dettagli quello dell'enoteca: bastano pochi gradini per raggiungere,…read moredall'ingresso, ciò che può definirsi un vero e proprio tempio del gusto per gli amanti, apprezzatori o semplici conoscitori del buon vino; quella bevanda che, da sempre, dona quel tocco in più alle tavole imbandite, regalando ad ogni pietanza un aspetto invitante e succulento. Un lungo percorso, una sorta di passeggiata culturale tra gli scaffali perfettamente ordinati, ricolmi di bottiglie con più di seicento rinomate etichette. Un tour selettivo e ragionato nel sempre più affollato panorama vitivinicolo nazionale e non. Sorso dopo sorso, assaggio dopo assaggio, l'atmosfera familiare e casalinga che si respira nell'enoteca Palatone vi condurrà alla scelta del vino adatto per l'occasione. Cabernet sauvignon, merlot, petit verdot ed ancora Lacryma Christi, Biancolella e Greco sono solo alcune delle tipologie presenti nello straordinario spazio allestito dai fratelli Colamarino, dove è possibile trovare anche vino alla spina, spumanti, liquori, grappe, birre e bevande commerciali. Un luogo dove la serietà e la cura per il cliente sono al primo posto, garantiti ormai da ben oltre 50 anni di attività. Numerosi sono infatti i servizi messi a disposizione dai proprietari, primo fra tutti, l'eventuale consegna a domicilio dei prodotti acquistati. Un'enoteca, insomma, che vale la pena di conoscere anche solo per il gusto di visitarla, quasi fosse un museo, per godere appieno del sod

This place was amazing!!! Everyone in this bar none one of the greatest places we came to in…read moreNapoli! Amazing drinks amazing cheese a must check out!

Probably the highlight of my visit to Naples was discovering the spot devoted to the Strega line of…read moreamaro, bitters, grappa, and other related products. There's a stunning amount of product showcased here, most of which you'll never see in the US. You can find The standard Strega bitter liquor at some specialty liquor stores in the US, but some research may be involved depending on where you live. It would seem the American appetite for herbaceous, bitter liquors just hasn't reached the level required for import distribution. I, however am a huge fan of such things and this store was a playground for me. Aside from the vast array of products, the staff was friendly and knowledgeable and took time to answer all our questions. But what really makes this place special is the free samples. That's not a misprint. Free samples of several lines of Strega liquors including two varieties of Grappa--which I must say were fantastic. If you're unfamiliar with the stuff, here's the perfect opportunity to get acquainted with something new for your alcoholic fix.