When life gives you lemons: Sovrano Limoncello
It’s almost impossible to be downhearted with a glass of limoncello in hand.
Its cheerful yellow hue, derived from lemon zest, conjures up images of balmy, sunshine days on Italy’s Amalfi Coast. It’s little wonder it is such a popular after-dinner digestif liqueur.
Limoncello distilleries aren’t exclusive to Italy. Many Italian families migrated to New Zealand, including Sovrano Limoncello founders, the Loggias, bringing their special recipes with them.
Today Sovrano Limoncello is made in Christchurch by the Van der Plas family, who took over the business almost three years ago. “My mother had always been a big fan of limoncello and my father was looking for a business. The stars seemed to be perfectly aligned,” says Nina Campbell of Sovrano Limoncello.
Now the enterprise is very much a hands-on family affair. Everyone, even the children, pitch in when it is time to peel the lemons, all of which are sourced from within New Zealand. “It’s all very entertaining and there’s lots of laughter and love that goes into what we do.
“Of course the scent of lemons in the air is simply amazing and the result is a delicious, crisp drink.”
The company makes various other liqueurs too, including orangello, orangello cream, limoncello cream, chococello, coffee liqueur, vodka, walnut liqueur, rosolio liqueur and liquorice liqueur.
