Cupertinum. Ancien Salento winery

Cupertinum Ancien Salento winery is located in the territory of Copertino, 15 km from the city of Lecce. This is one of the most productive territories in the Salento wine sector and has its own recognition with the D.O.P. Copertino.

The Cupertinum Winery has founded in 1935 thanks to the will of 36 wine-growing members. The company’s mission has always been the cooperation of winemakers to deal directly with the vinification of their grapes and the trade-in wines.

To date, the winery has 300 contributing members and has established itself on the territory and in national and international markets not only for the improvement of the finished product, but also as a model of socio-economic development of its territory in a logic of cooperation.

The vineyards

The vineyards are those owned by the conferring members, scattered throughout the territory of Copertino. The DOP Copertino is characterized by red, clayey vineyards of various composition placed above the hard or tufaceous limestone, characteristic of the Salento landscape. The land is located in a flat area, at an altitude of 30-60 meters above sea level.

A total area of about 400 hectares of vineyards, on which the vines of Salento are mainly planted: Negroamaro, Primitivo, black Malvasia  and white Malvasia. There are also other varieties in smaller quantities.

The vineyards are bred with the traditional Apulian sapling system or spurred cordon.

 “I vigneti sul Castello” (The vineyards on the Castle)

The winery then launched a unique project in the world, the project “I vigneti sul Castello” born in 2013. The project allowed the reintroduction of a vineyard inside the structure of the Castle of Copertino, precisely on the ramparts and walkways of the same. In fact, sources say that these spaces were used in the past as hanging gardens and cultivated with vineyards and olive groves. The idea was born from the winemaker of the Cupertinum winery, Giuseppe Pizzolante Leuzzi, and allowed the identity recovery of the place. With the favourable opinion of the management of the Castle of Copertino and the Superintendence for Architectural and Landscape Heritage, the vineyard was planted in 2014 and is the subject of numerous TV and journalistic services for its particularity.

Photo Credit: Stefano Spagnolo_Salentowinehop

In 2019 the Espresso Guide was awarded Copertino Doc Rosso Riserva as Best Red Wine of Pugliaacknowledging it among the Top 100s in Italy.

 

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