Story: Torrevento | Puglia

The current owner of Torrevento, Francesco Liantonio, turned his passion into a profession. The former lecturer in marketing and commerce at the University of Bari exchanged the lecture hall for a place in viticulture. He took over his parents' business, modernized many processes in the vineyard and cellar, and with great commitment earned his place among the best winemakers in the country.

The winery now farms 400 hectares. Stony karst soils on the high plateau of Murgia provide optimal conditions for cultivation, especially for native grape varieties. Underground watercourses provide ideal irrigation in a natural way. In addition, there is the Mediterranean climate with warm and dry summers and relatively cold winters. Since the vineyards, which are situated at an altitude of 400 to 600 meters, are only thirteen kilometers from the sea, the omnipresent wind ensures that the vines are evenly ventilated. The name Torrevento - Tower of the Wind - refers to precisely that wind. The cantina, equipped with the latest technology, is hidden within the walls of a former 18th century Benedictine monastery. The complex also includes extensive rock cellars under the monastery, which provide optimal conditions for the aging and maturation of the wines.

The grapes grown are mainly autochthonous varieties such as Pampanuto, Uva di Troia, Bombino Nero and Bianco, Aglianico or Nero di Troia. The wines made from these grapes have received a great deal of official recognition: for example, the red wine 'Vigna Pedale', a single-varietal Nero di Troia, has for many years been the 'holder' of the coveted Three Glasses in the most important Italian wine guide, the Gambero Rosso. Another highly acclaimed drop, which also received the highest award of Three Glasses in the Gambero Rosso 2015, is the 'Bolonero Castel del Monte Rosso DOC', a multi-layered cuvée of Nero di Troia and Aglianico. - Gerardo [TS09/22]

"Torrevento was established in an old 17th century monastery in the heart of the Alta Murgia National Park, at the foot of the famous octagonal Castel del Monte of the Hohenstaufen King Frederick II. The winery has been owned by the Liantonio family since 1913. Today Torrevento covers 500 hectares of vineyards in Puglia, promoting the autochthonous grape varieties of the region and following a production philosophy based on sustainability, research and quality." - Falstaff