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Cantine Erario
Eleonora
Cantine Erario is a family farm in Manduria, where the Erario family has been producing wine and olive oil since the end of the 19th century. Until 2006 the Erario family was mostly producing wines that were used by the wineries in the North of Italy to blend with their own wines. But in 2006 the Erario family decided to change course and started producing their own wines. This is also the moment the Brunetti family joins the winery. Eleonora Brunetti explains proudly, how this winery was able to redirect its focus on quality in the last 15 years.
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Two harvests
At Cantine Erario, the harvest is done by hand during two separate occasions. The first harvest takes place in August, when the ripest and biggest bunches of grapes are picked. The second harvest is in September, this time the remaining bunches are picked. These bunches now had the opportunity to fully ripen and use the sap flows of the plant to produce sugar. This way of harvesting, combined with the hot and dry climate of central Puglia, creates grapes with exceptionally high sugar levels. Because of this, higher alcohol contents can be reached in a completely natural way. The result is a set of strong, unique wines that are typical of the Manduria area.
Special cultivation
The grapevines of Cantine Erario are cultivated in two different ways. Erarios elite wines are grown according to the Alberello method: free-standing, little trees instead of hanging plants in rows like we see in most vineyards. 3000 years ago, this was the way to cultivate grapes. Today, it is still practiced in very specific places. The method is less efficient, but with Alberello the grapes are sheltered from direct sunlight by the canopy of the small tree. In sun-drenched Puglia this is not a luxury. By protecting the grapes against scorching and premature ripening, Erario achieves a higher quality in these grapes.
Respecting nature
At Cantine Erario, there is great respect for history and tradition. This is reflected in the traditional way of making wine, the Alberello method, but also in the respect for nature. Not only are the wines of Erario grown organically, but there is also attention for the conservation of nature. For example, the families make it a point to work as CO2 neutral as possible, for example by installing solar cells on the roof of the wine cellars. Furthermore, only native grape varieties are grown that don’t need any special treatment to be able to grow in this area and climate.
Primitivo
When you say Puglia, you say Primitivo and when you say Primitivo, you say Manduria. That is why Mezzogiorno offers you four different Primitivi, one of which is the famous Primitivo di Manduria Dolce Naturale, a unique dessert wine. Thanks to the high sugar concentration in the grapes, it is possible to create this special, sweet red wine without the addition of sugar.
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