Casamatta

The story

Casamatta – Michelin-Starred Modern Mediterranean Dining in Manduria, Italy

Casamatta at Vinilia Wine Resort

Within the grounds of the Vinilia Wine Resort — an early 20th-century noble estate near Manduria, in the heart of Salento — Casamatta offers an experience that the resort describes as “a continuous heartbeat of sensations and scents that speak of Puglia.” It is a restaurant that feels both familiar and surprising, anchored in local tradition yet unafraid of bold, modern gestures. This approach recently earned it a Michelin star, a recognition that feels natural given the precision and personality on every plate.

The restaurant’s tasting menus are the clearest window into its philosophy. They are named evocatively: Decimo in corso (six courses), Evergreen (five courses), and On the way (eight courses). Each is built around pure, Mediterranean ingredients transformed with technique and wit. A dish like “Spaghettino, Sponzale alla brace, pomodoro e cappero” pairs a local pasta with charred onion, tomato, and capers — simple in name but layered in flavour. Another, “Seppia e seppia, Nduja e limone,” plays cuttlefish against spicy spreadable salami and citrus, a classic Salento marriage of sea and land. The kitchen also composes à la carte options from the same tasting-menu repertoire, inviting diners to design their own journey across three or four courses.

The setting is intimate, woven into the castle’s original architecture — stone walls, soft light, and an atmosphere that balances rusticity with refinement. A strong wine list, focused on Apulian labels, complements the food and deepens the sense of place. For those staying at the resort, the Gourmet lovers package pairs a tasting menu with wine, turning dinner into a seamless part of the Salento escape.

Modern cuisine in Manduria finds a compelling voice at Casamatta: respectful of the land, inventive in execution, and quietly confident.