Story: Rivera | Puglia
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The legacy of the De Corato family is inextricably linked to the fertile soils of Apulia. In the late 1940s, Sebastiano De Corato founded the Rivera winery in the surroundings of Andria—with the ambitious vision of discovering the hidden quality potential of the Castel del Monte wine region and making it known far beyond the borders of Italy. Soon after its founding, Rivera established itself as a key player in Apulian viticulture and played a significant role in the renaissance of this traditional growing region.
The decisive impetus came in the 1980s from Sebastiano’s son Carlo, who set new standards through innovative work in both vineyard and cellar. Under his leadership, Rivera further developed into a winery that harmonizes modern oenological knowledge with the character of the terroir. Today, Sebastiano and Marco, the founder’s grandsons, continue the family tradition with great passion. Their wines express the intense diversity of aromas, elegance, and authenticity that characterize Castel del Monte.
Quality Initiatives: Vineyard Care
At the heart of Rivera’s commitment to quality lies the careful management of its own 75 hectares of vineyards. The vines are tended using sustainable cultivation practices—including cordon training with spur pruning and Guyot training. The goal is to achieve high planting density with simultaneously low yields, in order to produce wines with complexity and depth.
The vineyards Torre di Bocca and Coppa are located at about 200 to 230 meters above sea level and are characterized by deep soils with a high content of limestone and tuff. These conditions favor both white indigenous grape varieties and elegant red grapes with fine structure. Particularly spectacular is the vineyard of Lama di Corvo at 350 meters altitude: on rocky limestone soils of the Alta Murgia plateau, Chardonnay and Sauvignon thrive here, distinguished by freshness, minerality, and precision—qualities that give the wines their unmistakable character.
Pioneering Spirit: Breaking New Ground
The Rivera winery is one of the few estates in Apulia that can compete on a national level with its quality. The De Corato family, together with the Francia family co-owners of the winery, has not only accompanied but actively shaped Apulian viticulture since the early 20th century. After World War II, bold steps were taken: they ventured into the cultivation of international varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Bianco and introduced modern methods in both vineyard and cellar.
This spirit of experimentation enabled Rivera early on to continue evolving without losing its roots. Today, Carlo De Corato runs the company together with his son Sebastiano with the same determination and innovative strength as his father once did. The focus is always on balancing tradition and progress.
Innovative Facilities: A New Era of Winemaking
A significant milestone was the construction of a new, technologically advanced winery in the municipality of Rivera, right next to the historic estate. This modern facility allows for more precise vinification and greater capacity—and forms the foundation for the future development of the Rivera brand.
Today, the vineyards extend over several municipalities—including Andria, Minervino, Murge, and Corato—all located within the protected designation of origin Castel del Monte, named after the legendary octagonal castle of Emperor Frederick II. The current range includes a broad portfolio, including the promising “Terre al Monte” line. This unites modern stylistics with regional character and produces wines such as Sauvignon, Pinot Nero, and Aglianico. The latter is considered a worthy successor to the renowned Falcone—a red wine that has long since become an icon of Apulian quality viticulture. - Gerardo [TS05/25]
"Rivera is one of the most important wineries in Puglia in terms of image and quality. I was able to taste through two vintages of recent releases and was delighted by the two top-shelf wines (the Puer Apuliae and Il Falcone Riserva) from the 2009 vintage. To my palate, these are two of the finest wines ever made by Rivera. Rivera has overwhelmingly mastered the difficult art of making great wine from the finicky Nero di Troia variety. Because of its thin skin, the grape often suffers from mold and mildew. But Rivera has gained experience over the years to lessen the impact of these issues." - Robert Parker
© www.rivera.it| Name | Rivera | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Category | Puglia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Founding Year | 1950 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owner | De Corato Family | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oenologist | Leonardo Palumbo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Annual Production (Btls) | 1.200.000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vineyard Area (Hectare) | 75 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Additional Purchase | No | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cultivation | Conventional | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Preludio No 1 · Chardonnay del Castel del Monte DOC 2025, RiveraRivera, Puglia € 8,50 11,33 €/L | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sauvignon Terre al Monte DOC 2020, RiveraRivera, Puglia € 8,50 11,33 €/L | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Salice Salentino DOC 2021, RiveraRivera, Puglia € 7,50 jetzt € 6,99 9,32 €/L | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Primitivo Salento IGT 2022, RiveraRivera, Puglia € 7,95 jetzt € 7,49 9,99 €/L | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Cappellaccio · Aglianico Riserva DOC 2020, RiveraRivera, Puglia € 13,50 18,00 €/L | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Fedora · Castel del Monte Bianco DOC 2024, RiveraRivera, Puglia € 6,95 9,27 €/L | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
