A Toast to Brindisi

The trip starts in Ostuni (Brindisi Province), a splendid white city. Along the road from Fasano toOstuni there are some lovely views of centuries-old olive trees surrounding the typical local farmsteads.

These were once thriving agricultural centres, and some are still working as farms and as agritourism hotels and restaurants. This is one of the most popular areas of Puglia for tourists, who come here to relax and savour the traditional cuisine which is part of the warm local tradition of hospitality. Ostuni is the name of the first Doc wine on our trip today.

The two local Ottavianello and Sussumaniello grape varieties are typical in this area: after years of neglect they have become popular again and are excellent wine grapes, sharing the limelight here with Negroamaro and Malvasia di Brindisi, used to make the Brindisi Doc and Salice Salentino Doc wines we meet in the next stage of the trip.

From Ostuni we head south towards the sea. The rocky shore line gradually gives way to sand dunes beyond the olives and Mediterranean shrubs of the Torre Guaceto Marine and Nature Reserve - a real paradise for birds and sea animals.

BrindisiWe continue south towards Brindisi, whose name in Italian means a “toast”. During the Crusades Brindisi was where ships full of soldiers and wine left for the Holy Land. Legend has it that after a successful battle, the crusaders would raise their glasses to celebrate and drink “to Brindisi” in memory of their joy before leaving for war.
Finally we move on to Cellino San Marco, San Donaci and San Pancrazio Salentino, to discover some of the most important wineries of the Upper Salento area. These small towns are mainly agricultural centres, where vines have flourished for thousands of years, pruned into the typical alberello pugliese form. This fascinating and elegant cultivation system is of Greek origin and is a living reminder of the ancient bond between man and nature.

WINERIES

PAOLO LEO
San Donaci (Br)

CANTINA SAN DONACI
San Donaci (Br)

CARVINEA
Carovigno (Br)

VALLONE
Carovigno (Br)

TORMARESCA MASSERIA MAIME
San Pietro Vernotico (Br)

MASSERIA ALTEMURA
Torre Santa Susanna (Br)

LE VIGNE DI SAMMARCO
Cellino San Marco (Br)

CANTINE DUE PALME
Cellino San Marco (Br)

MASSERIA LI VELI
Cellino San Marco (Br)