Blog: Cantina San Donaci · Puglia

Cantina San Donaci, one of the oldest wineries in Salento, was founded in 1933 by a group of 12 farmers whose goal was to develop the economy of their land and their products. Over time, the number of partners of the winery has increased and today it counts about 300 partners, with a grape volume that varies between 25,000 and 30,000 quintals depending on the year. It has become an important reference point in Italian and Apulian enology, thanks to its commitment and long tradition in the area, which also plays a major role in the history of Salice Salentino.

Cantina San Donaci is equipped with the most modern technologies that guarantee a lasting quality. The agronomists follow the conferring members, from the choice of the variety to the application of the principles of integrated pest management.

The company philosophy is to remunerate the members based on the quality of the grapes harvested. The winery has 300 hectares of vineyards located in the most dedicated areas of Salice Salentino, with a particular variety of soils and microclimates.

This allows the grapes to better express themselves in the winemaking process. The vineyards are cultivated on calcareous clay soils that support well a warm and dry climate. We have different systems of cultivation (bush vines or alberello and cordon) and cultivation practices that are closely related to the availability of water in the soil, the grape yield and the type of wines to be produced. The traditional alberello system, which has its origins in ancient times, is maintained by the winery. This planting system, used in the Mediterranean area, is characterized by a moderate growth, few buds and consequently a high quality of grapes. Cantina San Donaci uses only autochthonous grapes from its vineyards: in addition to the three traditional varieties such as Negroamaro, Primitivo and Malvasia Nera, Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malvasia Bianca, Chardonnay, Fiano and Trebbiano are also used. - Gerardo [TS02/23]