Tenuta Viglione, a family-run winery with a reputation for producing high quality wines, based near the small town of Santeramo in Colle in Puglia, a sun-kissed region of Southern Italy is expanding its availability in America, particularly in California, Florida and New York.
The winery, set over 160 hectares was established in 1937 by the grandfather of the current owner Giovanni Zullo and has been producing organic wines for over 35 years, since 1987. It is situated in the Gioia del Colle PDO (Protected Denomination of Origin) and on the Murge karst plateau in the center of Puglia. Vineyards are located on an average altitude of 400 meters above sea level, where the thermic excursion between day and night gives this wine a distinctive acidity. The clayey-calcareous soil and the hilly terrain of the Murge Plateau gives the wines of this area their typical minerality.
Tenuta Viglione’s method of producing wine is based on two fundamental concepts; respect for the environment and the link with the native vines of its territory, the Puglia region. With one sole exception, the winery only vinifies grape varieties that have been growing here for centuries. This not only recognizes the primacy of nature but also gives the best results. If nature didn’t want a Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon to originate in Southern Italy, there must be a reason!
Whilst it has long been a vacation favorite of Italians during the warmer months; Puglia (traditionally known for its bountiful agriculture and unrivalled olive oil production) has experienced something of a boom in recent years. However, despite its profile rapidly rising, wine from Puglia remains relatively unknown on a global level, even though it has a widespread quality that impresses even the most seasoned of wine experts.
Tenuta Viglione’s flagship wines are its Primitivo, Negroamaro, Susumaniello and lesser-known varieties such as Verdeca and Nero di Troia. Verdeca is a white wine with a signature fresh, sapid, and mineral palate, combined with the characteristic nose of aromatic herbs, notes of citrus and peach, and bright straw-yellow color, tending to golden. On the other hand, Nero di Troia, is a ruby red color with rich and spicy aromas of blackberry and cherry, and elegant tannins and fulfilling flavor.