Cantina San Donaci | Puglia
Cantina San Donaci, founded in 1933, is one of the oldest wineries in Salento and plays a central role in Apulian wine production. The winery produces around 500,000 bottles a year and uses the traditional Alberello method of winegrowing, which results in higher quality wines with lower yields. Particularly noteworthy are the Negroamaro, Primitivo and Malvasia Nera grape varieties, with which the winery has achieved a significant position on the international wine market. San Donaci pursues a modern approach to wine production, but relies on the preservation of traditional values and close cooperation with its members, which is reflected in the high quality of the wines. Despite the modern winery, the winery remains deeply connected to the region and its history. The wines from Apulia, especially the Primitivo di Manduria, not only offer excellent quality at a fair price, but also an authentic taste of the Apulian sun. - Gerardo [TS01/25]
Region: Puglia Grape Variety: Primitivo Grape Variety: Negroamaro Classic: Salice Salentino
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Anticaia · Salento Chardonnay IGP 2024Cantina San Donaci, Puglia
This Chardonnay from Cantina San Donaci is pale straw yellow in the glass with delicate greenish reflections - an indication of its freshness and youth. The nose reveals an intense, fruity bouquet with fine notes of citrus fruits, white flowers and a hint of tropical notes. Despite its aromatic richness, the wine is always balanced and elegant, supported by a subtle minerality that gives it depth and character.
€ 6,25 = 8,33 €/L
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Anticaia · Negroamaro Salento IGT 2023Cantina San Donaci, Puglia
This pure Negroamaro from the heart of Apulia has a deep ruby red color and an expressive bouquet, which is primarily characterized by dark berry fruits such as sour cherry and blackcurrant. There are also subtle hints of Mediterranean herbs and a subtle balsamic freshness, which lends the wine additional complexity and elegance. The aromas are clear and powerful without being overpowering and authentically reflect the originality of the grape variety.
€ 6,25 = 8,33 €/L
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Anticaia · Primitivo Salento IGT 2023Cantina San Donaci, Puglia
This pure Primitivo from the heart of Puglia is a deep, dark red in the glass and immediately reveals an intense bouquet of preserved red fruits, dark cherries and a hint of dried plum. The nose is caressed by a warm, inviting aroma that already gives the first hints of the wine's rich fruitiness and charming opulence.
€ 6,25 = 8,33 €/L
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Anticaia · Salice Salentino Rosato DOP 2024Cantina San Donaci, Puglia
The Anticaia Rosato has a bright coral red color in the glass, which visually announces its lively personality. An intense yet elegant bouquet unfolds on the nose with aromas of fresh raspberries, wild berries and a hint of rose petals - a fragrance reminiscent of summer gardens. The cuvée is based on the traditional Salice Salentino grape varieties and brings out their fruity richness and fine spiciness in a particularly accessible way.
€ 6,25 = 8,33 €/L
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Anticaia · Salice Salentino DOP 2020Cantina San Donaci, Puglia
The grapes for this characterful Salice Salentino come from the traditional vineyards around San Donaci, where the Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera grape varieties have been ripening in the Apulian sun for generations. The bouquet opens with intense aromas of ripe, partly preserved dark fruit, accompanied by balsamic herbal notes, a hint of liquorice and a spicy hint of black pepper - an aroma that reflects the deep roots of the wine in its origins.
€ 6,25 = 8,33 €/L
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Pietra Caya · Salento Malvasia IGP 2022Cantina San Donaci, Puglia
The Pietra Caya, a semi-dry Malvasia from the sun-drenched Salento region, is a bright ruby red in the glass with a seductive sheen. On the nose, it develops an intense, inviting bouquet of ripe wild berries, accompanied by a hint of rum pot and subtle nuances of dark cherries. This aromatic diversity gives it a warm, almost sensual depth that reveals the rich fruitiness of the Malvasia grape from the very first impression.
€ 6,95 = 9,27 €/L
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Anticaia · Salice Salentino Riserva DOP 2019Cantina San Donaci, Puglia
For the Salice Salentino Riserva, the Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera grapes are cultivated according to the traditional Alberello system - a complex but particularly quality-enhancing form of cultivation that delivers outstanding results in the hot Apulian climate. The maturation period of 24 months in barriques gives the wine a remarkable depth, complexity and velvety elegance. An intense aroma of ripe, dark fruit, dried herbs and fine roasted aromas reminiscent of cedar wood and roasted nuts unfolds on the...
€ 7,50 = 10,00 €/L
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Contrada del Falco · Salento Rosso IGT 2019Cantina San Donaci, Puglia
The Contrada del Falco is a cuvée with a strong character made from the traditional Negroamaro, Malvasia Nera and Primitivo grape varieties - three grapes that form the heart of Apulian viticulture like no other. The deep ruby red color with garnet reflections already reveals the density of this wine. The bouquet is intense and complex, with spicy notes, dark berries, a hint of tobacco and fine vanilla and toasted nuances, which are the result of twelve months of ageing in barrique barrels.
€ 8,50 € 7,90 = 10,53 €/L
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Posta Vecchia · Salento Rosso IGT 2019Cantina San Donaci, Puglia
The Posta Vecchia has a deep ruby red color with light amber reflections that subtly hint at its maturity and elegance. A finely balanced bouquet of ripe red fruits such as cherries and raspberries unfolds on the nose, complemented by a gentle vanilla note that lends the wine a pleasant, almost creamy warmth. These nuances testify not only to the quality of the grapes used, but also to the careful ageing process.
€ 7,95 = 10,60 €/L
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Contrada del Falco · Salento Rosso IGT 2021Cantina San Donaci, Puglia
The Contrada del Falco is a cuvée with a strong character made from the traditional Negroamaro, Malvasia Nera and Primitivo grape varieties - three grapes that form the heart of Apulian viticulture like no other. The deep ruby red color with garnet reflections already reveals the density of this wine. The bouquet is intense and complex, with spicy notes, dark berries, a hint of tobacco and fine vanilla and toasted nuances, which are the result of twelve months of ageing in barrique barrels.
€ 8,50 = 11,33 €/L
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Primius · Primitivo di Manduria DOP 2021Cantina San Donaci, Puglia
The Primius is a noble representative of the renowned Primitivo di Manduria origin and has a deep dark, almost inky color and a seductive sheen. An intense aroma unfolds on the nose, reminiscent of candied fruit, black cherries and dried figs, finely underpinned by spicy nuances and a hint of cocoa. The bouquet already announces the richness and maturity of this wine, which combines the tradition and character of the region.
€ 8,50 = 11,33 €/L
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Pietra Caya · Passito di Malvasia Nera IGT 2021Cantina San Donaci, Puglia
The Pietra Caya Passito di Malvasia Nera is a fascinating dessert wine that presents itself in a rich, deep ruby red with shimmering violet reflections. It reveals its full expressiveness on the nose: an intense, almost beguiling aroma of wild berries, ripe plums and preserved cherries, accompanied by fine nuances of dried fruit and a hint of cocoa and spices. This rich aroma prepares you for an intense taste experience.
€ 10,50 = 21,00 €/L
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Fulgeo · Negroamaro Salento IGP 2020Cantina San Donaci, Puglia
The Fulgeo is Cantina San Donaci's flagship Negroamaro and shows itself in the glass with an intense garnet red color and an almost impenetrable core. On the nose, it unfolds a complex interplay of spicy and fruity aromas: ripe blackberries, dark plums and a hint of black pepper meld with subtle hints of licorice and tobacco. This dense aroma gives the wine depth and character and reveals its sophisticated origins at first glance.
€ 12,95 = 17,27 €/L
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Region: Puglia Grape Variety: Primitivo Grape Variety: Negroamaro Classic: Salice Salentino
Cantina San Donaci | Puglia | Buy at Gerardo
Cantina San Donaci is located in the municipality of the same name in the Apulian province of Brindisi and is one of the oldest wineries in the region. Founded in 1933 by a group of 12 winegrowers, it was one of the first of its kind in Salento. The vineyards in this sunny region are cultivated using the traditional Alberello or Gobelet method, a form of cultivation that results in lower yields and a higher quality grape must. This method is typical of the Apulia region and ensures that the wines of San Donaci reflect the intense, sunny characteristics of the area. The estate's most important grape variety is Negroamaro, but Primitivo and Malvasia Nera are also successfully cultivated and processed into wines with a strong character.
In recent years, San Donaci has made significant investments in modern technology and know-how. Grape processing is now carried out at a technically advanced level, which benefits the quality of the wines. The winery produces around 500,000 bottles a year, making it one of the most important producers in the region. Despite this considerable production volume, the quality remains high and is ensured by strict quality management. In contrast to the more expensive wines from the more northern regions of Italy, such as Tuscany or Piedmont, Puglia - and the wines of San Donaci in particular - offer excellent quality at a more affordable price. Primitivo in particular, especially Primitivo di Manduria, has gained an international reputation in recent years, and San Donaci plays a central role in this.
The importance of the Alberello method and the unique terroir of Apulia
The special thing about the vineyards of Cantina San Donaci is the Alberello training of the vines, also known as Gobelet. This form of training ensures that the vines grow on long wooden stakes and is ideally suited to the hot and dry climate of the region. The result is lower yields but a higher concentration and quality of the grape must. This method gives the wines of San Donaci their typical character: powerful, aromatic and deep. The vineyards are mainly located in the Manduria growing area, which is known for its exceptional conditions for growing Primitivo.
San Donaci pursues a modern, technology-oriented approach to wine production. In the winery's cellars, temperature-controlled and computer-assisted fermentation in stainless steel tanks ensures that the wines can develop their organoleptic characteristics to the full. The winery's barrique cellar, in which almost all wines are matured for a short time, plays a special role. This ageing in barriques is not intended to mask the natural fruitiness of the grapes, but rather to complete the overall picture of the wine and give it additional depth. The members of the Cantina are highly motivated to deliver high-quality grapes, as these are better rewarded by San Donaci, which leads to a continuous improvement in wine quality.
A symbol of Apulian wine culture
San Donaci is not just a winery, but also a symbol of Apulian wine culture. With its rich heritage and deep connection to the region, the winery has contributed significantly to the development of the Salento area. The wines of San Donaci not only offer an insight into the tradition and craft of Apulian viticulture, but also into the innovative strength of the region. Despite its success, the winery has never forgotten its roots in the region and remains true to Apulian tradition and the winemakers' craft. For wine lovers who want to experience the authentic Apulia, San Donaci is an absolute must. - Gerardo [TS01/25]