The Negroamaro Park

Our journey begins inSan Pietro Vernotico(Brindisi Province), and takes us through an area with a wealth of wineries to discover.  Each one is different and has its own story, but they all have one grape variety in common:Negroamaro, the symbol ofSalentowines. The most important wine towns of theUpper Salentohave created aPark for Negroamaro, and the two Doc wines of the area -SquinzanoandSalice Salentino– are based on this variety. There are two different theories about the origin of the name Negroamaro: one is that it is an obvious reference to the black grapes and the slightly bitter flavour, while the other is that it means “blackblack” fromnigerin Latin andmaruin Greek. This is the heart of the Messapian Plain, a sunny, fertile area which was once rich grazing land. The trip from Brindisi to Lecce takes us through countryside full of reminders that this area has always produced oil and wine. A few kilometers take us toSquinzano,Guagnano,Salice SalentinoandCampi Salentina, in the so-called Cupa Valley. The ideal combination of climate and soil structure produces wines with rich and complex bouquets. TheCupa Valleywas once home to the Lecce aristocracy, and is full of grand houses, farm houses, fortified farmsteads and dry-stone buildings: these include thepagghiare(orpajare), used by farm workers to shelter from bad weather or to store their implements. The landowners’ residences often have dove-cotes and underground ice stores (neviere).