Limonocello in Cinque Terre

Kathy, I don't recall seeing any Limoncello in the Cinque Terre? It's produced more in Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast area. You'll more likely find the local Sciacchetrà Wine. However, it wouldn't hurt to ask the locals once you arrive in the C.T. Perhaps Limoncello IS available there? Cheers!

Since I can find Limoncello at my local liquor store, you may be able to find it in the CT, but as Ken says it is a southern Italian product. Mainly centered around the gulf of Naples and Sorrento/Amalfi. Traditionally produced with Sorrento lemons. The CT product that you will be hard pressed to find outside the CT and even harder outside Italy is the CT's Sciacchetrà wine. Slightly sweet and golden in color. It is usually enjoyed with cheeses and desert. You can buy bottles of it to bring home. http://www.travel-avenue.com/posts/35337-the-quintessence-of-cinque-terre-the-sciacchetrawine.html

The CT does make their own version of limoncello, its called limoncino. Its pretty much the same thing, just a regional name difference. The CT also makes a creamy version (think Bailey's), it's less alcoholic. I haven't tried it, but those who have say its really an acquired taste (meaning they didn't like it :)

I've been to Cinque Terre a couple of times; specifically, Monterosso, and there is plenty of limoncello to choose from among many different shapes of bottles. In fact, in the middle of May (May 12-15) Monterosso celebrates the Lemon Festival and provides sample of locally made limoncello throughout the town. Make sure you pack the gift bottles in your checked luggage coming home. My wife inadvertently put it in her carry-on and was made to dispose of it at Heathrow Airport.

We found Limoncello at a few restaurants in the CT. We search it out though. In Portofino the restaurant we had a pizza lunch at left us the bottle and 2 glasses, we could have been REALLY happy, but were good and just enjoyed ourselves. You can find gift size bottles if it in many shops, but you can also easily find the good stuff in the US in full size or half size bottles. The gift bottles are not always a good recipe.

We found Limoncello at a few restaurants in the CT. We search it out though. In Portofino the restaurant we had a pizza lunch at left us the bottle and 2 glasses, we could have been REALLY happy, but were good and just enjoyed ourselves. You can find gift size bottles if it in many shops, but you can also easily find the good stuff in the US in full size or half size bottles. The gift bottles are not always a good recipe.

As Gregory said, you can definitely get it in Monterosso. There's a great shop in the old town section of Monterosso and we bought it there along with several other liqeurs that were fabulous (melon & strawberry). I saw the limoncello though in several other places in little gift bottles. You shouldn't have any trouble finding it. Enjoy.

You can find Limoncino anywhere in CT. I've had less success finding the basil liquer in other parts of Italy though.

A few years back, we were doing our Cinque Terre tour and wandered into a shop close to the waterfront in Monterosso al Mare that sold nothing but limoncella. It had quite a selection. Don't know if the shop is still there, but it was not hard to find.

Well, the deed is done. We had difficulty with the connection at the hostel in Manarola for interim responses, but I was able to read posts quickly. Indeed, the local version is limonicini, and I'd recommend the place in Manarola where we bought it. They make it from their extensive lemon groves scattered atop Manarola, as well as the basil liqueor and some other products, and have samples. There is a tank behind the counter where samples of the limonicini are drawn from (hmmm, from which the limonicini is drawn). Members of the family that owns the business work the shop, along with a young family friend. Unfortunately, the basil liqueour came only in heart-shaped bottles and the large (500lt?) size. The lovely square vessels, and many other shapes, were used for limonicini, though I found a single square bottle of the basil and suggested that they offer more variety in bottling it. Anyway, it is called BURASCA, is in Manarola's commercial district at the end of the train tunnel, and by happy coincidence, right across from a lovely gelateria.