Negroamaro Stories: An Educational Journey into Salento's Wine Heritage

Press Conference: October 4, 2019

On Friday, October 4 at 10:30 AM, in the historic setting of the Museo del Negroamaro (Via Castello, 14, Guagnano), the press conference inaugurating the press tour "Storie di Negroamaro" was held. The event was promoted by the Comune di Guagnano, funded by the Regione Puglia, and attended by partner institutions, participating wineries, guest journalists, and artist Arianna Greco.

Speakers included: Antonio Rizzo (Assessor for Culture and Territorial Marketing), Claudio Maria Sorrento (Mayor of Guagnano), Chiara Tondo (Assessor for Agriculture), Cosimo Durante (President of Gal Terra d'Arneo), Viviana D'Amico (President of the Technical Organizing Committee of the Premio Terre del Negroamaro), and representatives of the Guagnano wineries.

A Project of Excellence

Within the final deadline of the Regione Puglia public notice "for the organization of hospitality initiatives for journalists and opinion leaders," the "Storie di Negroamaro" project by the Comune di Guagnano ranked sixth among over 70 proposals received.

The educational tour, taking place from October 3 to 7, 2019 in Guagnano, aimed to promote and showcase the municipality and the Terre dell'Arneo as a territory where local wine and gastronomy products define its tourist identity and appeal.

In the context of a region like Puglia, where food and wine products represent one of the strengths and excellences of the brand, Guagnano and the Terre dell'Arneo stand out as the premier production area for regional wine excellence, particularly DOC and IGT wines from native grape varieties such as Primitivo and Negroamaro.

The Wineries of Guagnano

The entire municipal territory was presented, showcasing the economic and productive strength of its important wine companies. Eight wineries within the municipal territory participated, offering tastings to the guests throughout the tour:

The Tour Program

The tour program, structured over 4 days, covered all the wineries, historical and cultural sites of Guagnano, coinciding with the patronal feast in honor of Madonna SS. del Rosario, as well as historic vineyards in the territory. It also extended to the areas and activities of the project partners:

• Comune di Trepuzzi
• Gal Terra d'Arneo
• Comune di Porto Cesareo
• Associazione Nazionale AIS di Lecce

The villages where this history unfolded are perfect destinations for Salento villages tour — explorations of Salento's most charming historic towns, each with its own wine story to tell. A guided tour Lecce followed by a visit to Guagnano offers a complete picture of what to see in Salento beyond the Baroque monuments.

International Guests & Influencers

The protagonists of the tour were international journalists, influencers, and opinion leaders exclusively from the wine sector, coming from France, England, Canada, Greece, the United States, and beyond:

Media Coverage and Legacy

The "Negroamaro Stories" educational tour represented a unique opportunity to showcase Guagnano's wine heritage to an international audience. The presence of renowned wine experts, Master of Wine Elizabeth Gabey, and top influencers from four continents helped amplify the story of Negroamaro across global media channels. For history enthusiasts, a Puglia 10 day itinerary should absolutely include Guagnano alongside Baroque Lecce and the coastal beauties of Salento.

For those who love wine and authentic travel experiences, Guagnano is not a detour — it is a destination. The combination of ancient winemaking tradition, indigenous Negroamaro grape, and the warmth of Salento hospitality has created something that cannot be replicated elsewhere. When you taste a Negroamaro from Guagnano, you are tasting history: generations of winemakers who understood that some wines are meant to tell the story of the land that made them.