Estate
A 17th-century farmstead embraced by the resplendent light of Salento and caressed by the delicate breezes of two seas.
Masseria Altemura is located in the Agro area of Torre Santa Susanna and Oria, in Salento. The Estate enjoys a very special geographical position, midway between the Ionian Sea and the Adriatic Sea. The particular location allows the vines to benefit from both the windy currents hailing from the first sea and the typical salinity of the second. The winegrowing area is also characterized by an unusual luminosity: the white rock that protrudes from the surface of the soil acts as a mirror of the sun's rays, thereby contributing to the ripening of the grapes.
ARCHITECTURAL PROJECT
The Estate houses, in a single enclosure, an ancient 17th-century farmhouse that has been restored with respect for the environment and the original architecture, and a modern-day winery, designed in accordance with the most up-to-date principles of eco-friendly architecture.
The architectural renovation of the ancient buildings respected the original layout. Nothing was left to chance, starting with the use of raw materials: Puglia’s typical limestone slabs, sedimentary limestone rock, tuff and white stone have all been used for the creation of new structures. Particular attention was paid to the renovation of two historically significant buildings for the area: the massive tower, which will be transformed into a prestigious residence for the Estate’s guests, and a private chapel with frescoes dating back to the 16th century.
INNOVATION AND TRADITION
The Zonin family acquired the property in 2000 as part of the Company's strategic project to promote and enhance Italian wines. This decision will provide an important boost to the rebirth of Apulian viticulture.
A lengthy initial design project gave way, over time, to work on the land and the Estate’s built structures, which now form the central hub of the Company.
TOTAL HECTARES
270
After the acquisition, all the land underwent ecologically sustainable interventions with the planting of autochthonous varietals capable of extracting the highest quality from the two types of soil present on the Estate: one with predominant stony-gravelly matter and the other with a loamy-clayey texture.
HECTARES OF VINEYARDS
130
Since 2000, on land where ancient Alberello vines once grew, wisely cared for and tended via age-old peasant traditions, new rows of the best autochthonous varietals have been planted, underpinned by a philosophy focused on all-round ecological sustainability.
HECTARES OF OLIVE GROVES
40
The vines are flanked in a perfectly geometrical layout by 40 hectares of centuries-old olive trees, their roots stretching deep down into the red earth mixed with white limestone rock. They continue to bear fruit and bend their silvery foliage with the whirl and whispering of the wind.
ONE OF THE MOST WELL-SUITED TERROIRS IN ITALY
The Estate is located within the Primitivo di Manduria DOC appellation, one of the most well-suited terroirs in Italy for quality viticulture.
Primitivo, a vine with very ancient origins, is now unanimously considered a symbol of the region and for years has enjoyed significant success in Italy and internationally for its typicality and longevity. It is the most important vine on the Estate and is cultivated in its purest forms to yield wines exhibiting an excellent combination of complexity and finesse.
OUR EXCELLENCES
In addition to Primitivo, the vineyards of Masseria Altemura also host other autochthonous varietals such as Fiano, an ancient vine whose success dates back to the time of Frederick II of Swabia, Negroamaro and Aglianico.
THE PRODUCTION PROCESS
The production process developed on the Estate adopts modern winemaking techniques while at the same time maintaining a high degree of respect for tradition.
As an identifying element of Masseria Altemura, the production process involves the use of the sun and natural techniques: winery corrections have been eliminated and the sensitivity of the oenologists represents the only guide to achieving the desired style of wines.
ANTONIO CAVALLO
Director of Estate
My dream is to ensure that the Masseria Altemura Estate expresses the full potential of Apulian oenology, with a production philosophy based on the enhancement of autochthonous vines and the control of the entire wine quality supply chain, encompassing every phase from grape to glass. The wines must express strength and elegance, precisely as a sort of ‘imprint’ of the Salento area.
The agronomist Antonio Cavallo was born in Grottaglie (in the province of Taranto) on 19th January 1972, a few kilometres from the Estate. After graduating in Agricultural Sciences in Bologna with a thesis on viticulture, he started working in two different wineries, carrying out the tasks of agronomist and oenologist until the end of 2004.
In November 2004 he joined the technical staff of the ZONIN1821 Group and now manages Masseria Altemura, managing both the viticultural and oenological aspects.
