Tenute Rubino. Journey to the Susumaniello’s land

Tenute Rubino is one of the best wineries in the Salento area.

Positioned in the high Salento, in Brindisi, the winery currently has over 270 hectares of vineyards distributed among the 4 estates: Jaddico, Marmorelle, Uggio e Punta Aquila. The 4 estates, located in different places for soil, sunshine and ventilation, allow obtaining different blends, expression of the characteristics of the territory.

Despite its relatively recent history, this company from Salento has completely changed its structure over time. From the exclusive activity of winegrowers in the 60s and 70s, it is today one of the greatest producers of excellent Salento’s wines.

Tommaso Rubino, founder of the company Tenute Rubino, as a great supporter of Salento subregion and with an open eye to the potential of this territory, he aimed at the acquisition of agricultural estates on which were planted the vines for the production and bottling of their wines.

The further turning point of the company, the one that will allow it to position itself on the current world markets, is thanks to Luigi Rubino, son of Tommaso. Luigi with extreme courage and foresight noticed the need to combine the quality of the product and its territoriality with modern production facilities. In fact, the current company headquarters was inaugurated in 2000, a technologically advanced winery that never fails to remember and celebrate its link with the territory.

Today the company Tenute Rubino exports most of its product to 23 countries around the world.

The ancient roots of the Jaddico Estate

Brindisi in Roman times was a Latin colony and the most important centre for the production of oil and wine and amphorae in the whole of Puglia.

In the archaeological area of Giancola in particular, the ancient Roman kilns of producing such amphorae have been found.

Precisely in the Jaddico Estate (now owned by Tenute Rubino), numerous remains of Roman amphorae dated from the 2nd century have been found. a.C. The amphorae produced here were also found in many countries of the Mediterranean basin, demonstrating the spread of the products of this territory.

To learn more about the history of this territory and its furnaces, read the interesting article on “La produzione delle anfore nelle fornaci di Apani e Giancola in età romana”.

A recovery project to focus on the future

The Jaddico Estate is the most representative of the company. An extension of 200 hectares, between the Brindisi-Lecce freeway and the Adriatic sea which is the horizon for the red earth of the estate.

It seems that this area owes its name “Jaddico” to indicate “Gallo“, perhaps as a reference to the passage of the Gallic peoples on this earth in the route to the East.

The Jaddico Estate has particular importance not only for its historical past. Here a great project by Luigi Rubino is born and is founded, that is the recovery of one of the native vines of Salento: the Susumaniello.

The name “Susumaniello” derives from “asinello” (donkey) and refers to the memory of the donkey that passed between the rows of vines carrying the large baskets full of grapes.

Susumaniello, a vine variety in extinction

This type of vine has a characteristic that is that of having a blend that is loaded with many fruits in the juvenile period. Here again, the image of the donkey loaded between the vineyards.

Over the years, the Susumaniello’s grape has a yield of 1 kg per plant; this meant that most of the plants were uprooted to be replaced with vines with higher yields. Luigi Rubino has made this vine the fulcrum of a project to recover territorial cultivation. A vine, that of Susumaniello, present only in Salento and from which today Tenute Rubino produces 4 labels including red, rosé and sparkling wines.

The Tenute Rubino winery

The Hospitality in the Tenute Rubino winery takes place in a modern and functional entrance space in which there is a first taste of welcome with Tenute Rubino bubbles.

From here there is access to an almost museum space in which large images on the walls tell the Estate itself. The earth samples, collected in small showcases, remind us of where the grapes from the cellar are born and the bottles are proudly displayed, animating the space.

Anna Cozzolino (wine cellar tourism manager) tells us the history of the Tenute, the Rubino family’s passion and the foresight of Luigi Rubino and his wife Romina Leopardi.

From this space, it is possible to reach the area of production and bottling with the large silos that preserve the precious nectars of the vineyards.

The visit ends with the view from above of the suggestive Barrels underground area.

Tenute Rubino is currently planning the construction of the new company headquarters. The new winery will be born on the soil of Jaddico, to underline once again the importance of the link with this part of the territory and its ancient history.

The Wine Tasting on the waterfront

To taste the company’s labels, we go to Brindisi at the Vinoteca Numero Primo on the waterfront. The location is perfect, we are right in front of the sea. In a modern fully glazed outdoor area we can always admire the landscape and the reflections of the water, in a well-kept and very relaxing atmosphere.

Here the wine tasting is accompanied by a combination of typical local products reworked in a modern key. The wine bar staff is very attentive to all the needs of the customers.

Tenute Rubino labels

The production of  Tenute Rubino’s winery offers numerous labels bearing the various grape varieties. Red and rosé wines are produced from Primitivo, Negroamaro, Susumaniello, Malvasia Nera, Ottavianello grapes. White wines are produced from Vermentino, Aleatico, Minutolo, and Malvasia Bianca grapes.

The reference to the history of the territory returns once again in the names of the labels of the fine wines of this company. A reference that denotes the love for this land and its millennial history.

Thus the Visellio and the Saturnino are born, which owe their name to that of two of the greatest furnace managers in the Augustan period, a name found engraved on the remains of the numerous amphorae found in the Jaddico Estate.

Or the Torre Testa, which owes its name to the coastal tower, precisely Torre testa (also called Capo Gallo) built in the 16th century on the promontory south of the city.