Wine Tour - Cantina Due Palme

Puglia stretches for more than 250 miles to form the heel of the Italian peninsula and its long hot summers create ideal conditions for nurturing the native grapes the three main red indigenous varieties being Negroamaro, Primitivo and Nero di Troia.

Negroamaro (literally "black bitter') is the region's most widely planted variety. It is found primarily in the Salento zone and is used extensively in the production of Puglia's full-bodied and robust Salice Salentino wine.

Primitivo is another widely-planted variety found primarily in the Salento zone and west-central Puglia. Genetically related to Zinfandel found in California, Primitivo is the basis for what is arguably Puglia's best category of red wine, the Primitivo di Manduria from the Salento zone. Primitivo wines produced further north in the Gioia del Colle area are more subtle than those from the Salento zone.

Nero di Troia (also known as Uva di Troia) is grown primarily in central and northern areas of Puglia. This variety can produce elegant wines with floral aromas and firm structure but can be high in tannins. However technological advances have controlled the level of tannins so that it is now gaining increased recognition as a premium wine grape.

Susumaniello is a little-known red-wine grape from grown almost exclusively in the Salice Salentino area, and in a growing number of vineyards around Brindisi, and ranks among the world's rarest wine grapes. The grapes are used to make both red and rosé wines - sometimes vinified alone but more often blended with Negroamaro. The classic red Susumaniello wine has a deep ruby hue and aromas of red berries and plums. Richer, more concentrated examples show spicy, peppery aromas and flavors of dark chocolate.

While it is the red wines from Puglia that receive the most attention, Puglia also produces some pleasant dry, crisp white wines. Whites made from local varieties such as Verdeca, Bombino Bianco and Greco Bianco are the most common although white wines made from Chardonnay are gaining in popularity.

Cantele Winery: Wine Tasting

The family owned Cantele winery is a relatively new Pugliese wine producer; it was founded in 1979 by Gianni Cantele and his sons Augusto and Domenico and has now been operating for three generations. To meet the growing demand for its wines the family opened a new state-of-the-art winery with a very stylish I Sensi restaurant/tasting room where visitors, after a tour of the production facilities and cellars, enjoy a delicious lunch accompanied by tastings of their white, rosato and red wines.

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Tenuta Rubino: Wine Tasting

Salento is a land of wine and hospitality and this culture can be experienced at the Tenute Rubino winery. This young and dynamic wine producer opens its doors for exclusive cellar tours and where Romina Leopardi, will enthuastically introduce and describe the different types of grapes grown at their vineyards, the vinification process and ageing cellar that give rise to prestigious wines recognized by wine lovers and experts from around the world. Tenute Rubino is a relative newcomer to the region. But although it was only founded in 1999 its growth has been phenomenal - and production has shifted upwards from the initial pair of wines to a current total of 11. All visits will conclude with a professional tasting of Tenute Rubino wines, a unique and unrepeatable sensory experience. For the more demanding and refined palates there are also special packages combined with the best culinary traditions of Salento expertly prepared by the attentive and well-trained staff. All tastings can be matched with a platter of local artisan cold cuts and cheeses upon request.

Castello Monaci: Wine Tasting

Located on the outskirts of Salice Salentino in the sun drenched Southern Italy where cooling winds of the Mediterranean produce Puglia's indigenous Primitivo, Negroamaro, and Malvasia Nera grapes in 200 hectares of vineyards that is the Castello Monaci estate.

A guided tour begins a visit to the castle and gardens followed by a walk along the avenue of aromatic herbs leading on to the vineyards where the indigenous Primitivo and Malvasia Nera di Lecce grapes are grown. After visiting the cellar to see the winemaking and grape processing areas the tour heads to the museum for the wine tasting where a sommelier will guide you through each tasting.

The castle's stables have been converted into modern suites if you would like to extend your visit to the estate. The complex is complemented with a spa, outdoor swimming pool and a small restaurant for guests