Salento Wines of Cantina Fiorentino: Products of Sustainability in the Vineyards and in the Cellar

Posted by Rowena Dumlao Rowena Dumlao - Giardina 8/08/2023

Salento Wines of Cantina Fiorentino: Products of Sustainability in the Vineyards and in the Cellar

Pierantonio Fiorentino had a visionary project in mind when he bought the historical Valle dell'Asso Winery from Gino Vallone in 2016. Being an entrepreneur from Salento involved in the renewable energy industry, he also maintains a strong interest in agriculture. He wanted to put his knowledge in energy to a sustainable wine production tied by his boundless love for his territory. Philosophizing the fundamental things he believes in, "Everything starts from the land, and it is there that we return with the production of Salento wines that know how to narrate and respect the territory."

Pierantonio Fiorentino

Luca Miccoli and Simone March, oenologists

Sustainability in the Vineyards

There are 100 hectares of agriculture land, 80 of which are vineyards spread out in three large blocks of corresponding sizes with principally clayey and calcareous soil, with some sandy and tuffaceous composition. The vines naturally get dried from humidity with the winds coming from the sea, a good 20 kilometers from them and the mountains that surround the area. Cantina Fiorentino only practices environment sustainability in the vineyards and produces organic wines exclusively guided by their commitment in respecting and safeguarding the environment. Healthy soils are encouraged and maintained for the vigorous growth of the vines in the years to come by practicing environmental care and responsibility in the vineyards.

For Cantina Fiorentino, the organic system does not only mean the utilization of copper and sulphur. Instead, it starts from the knowledge of the soil for the development of accurate viticultural techniques. This way, the most suitable balance in the vineyards can be achieved: a healthy and correct agronomic management in which the phytosanitary problems are naturally reduced according to the vintage. Dryland farming is practiced, a specific agricultural technique for non-irrigation of the crops combined with contour plowing which creates breaks on the surface of soil for rainwater to seep in, allowing better moisture retention under the surface.

Sustainability in the Wine Cellar

One of the two wineries of Cantina Fiorentino is located in the artisan area of Galatina and rises above an old winery of the late 19th century. With the new wine cellar, renovation in accomplishment of having the most advanced energy saving systems were installed in reconciliation with their philosophy in responsible organic system employed in the vineyards. Every detail of the winery has been designed and built to optimize energy consumption. It is powered exclusively by energy from renewable sources.

The energy consumption of the winery is supported by a photovoltaic system that has the capacity to for total self-sufficiency. For example, the insulated roof allows significant energy savings and lowers the temperature by at least ten degrees. The pipes are insulated, allowing the maintenance of constant temperature without heat loss. The wine cellar storage was designed to have a constant temperature during the seasons but different from the environment of the silos thanks to a heat pump that regulates itself and manages the temperature. Furthermore, the wine cistern was reclaimed in order to recover the water and steam used to wash the tanks. In addition, even the choice of colors of the white walls and red floor have their own functions – to reflect light.

The Wines

Cantina Fiorentino has a production of wines under the direction of their oenologists Luca Miccoli and Simone March, with grapes obtained from their own cultivation of Negroamaro, Primitivo, Verdeca, Fiano, Aleatico, Malvasia Nera and Moscato Reale. These are divided into three lines: Madreterra which are all aged in steel tanks therefore characterized by their simplicity and authenticity; the Galatea which are made with grape varieties under the DOC denomination and are characterized by a wide and rich aromatic spectrum; and the Valle dell’Asso line which retains the name of the old company and has the renowned labels like the Piromàfo of pure Negroamaro, Nivvro, the pure Primitivo aged in Slovenian oak barrels for at least 12 months and the sweet wines Macàro and Stiara.

Vertical Tasting of Piromàfo Negroamaro Salento IGT

Piromàfo falls in the Valle dell'Asso line of Cantina Fiorentino and is made of 100% Negroamaro. It is aged in steel tanks for 12 months and another 12 to 18 months in big oak barrels. The vintages in the vertical tasting are from 1999 to 2016 (1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2005 -2007 - 2008 -2010 - 2011 - 2016) considering that these are the vintages from the previous winery, Valle Dell'Asso, to Cantina Fiorentino, with different oenologists and proprietors.

It is produced only in the best vintages, the grapes went through Double Reasoned Maturation, a technique applied directly in the vineyard which means that the stems of the bunches have been slightly cut and left in the plant then after about 10 to 15 days, they are harvested. This procedure allows to have a wine with a better organoleptic expression of the characteristics of the vine. Ageing is in big oak barrels between 12 to 18 months. The wine has a deep ruby red color which goes towards garnet as it ages. The identifying aromas are tobacco, coffee, dark fruits, sometimes dried violets, roses and varying levels of smoky notes. On the palate, it's soft with silky tannins and freshened with its acidity. The slow evolution of the wine in the bottle makes the older vintages result in a long youthful wine, my favorite of which was the 1999. Its evolution has been slow with lots of vitality left in the wine, expressing ample and complex characteristics both in the nose and on the palate. While the vibrancy of the 2016 is notable with great expressions of ample complexity in the nose and on the palate.