The new prizes and prizes to the Wines of the Historic Cantina di Copertino on 2016 Guides

Cupertinum, a high quality winery!

The new prizes and prizes to the Wines of the Historic Cantina di Copertino on 2016 Guides

The great success of the project “The Vineyard on the Copertino Castle” – a dream bringing together history and future, agriculture, culture and tourism – has crowned the 2015, 80th anniversary of Cupertinum foundation. And a rain of stars has come from 2016 Guide that have awarded the wines of such historic Copertino Winery these prizes:

* Top Hundred (the best 100 wines emerging) of Golosario to Primitivo Salento Igt;

* Golden Star of the Touring Club to Copertino Doc Riserva (juicy, relaxed, engaging, priceless for the price, like all the wines of this cooperative)

* Dolce Puglia of the Italian Sommelier Association to the Glykòs Passito Salento Igt (“marvelous Olfactory effluents … rich taste, elegant and persistent, inlaid with silky tannins”);

* Without forgetting the Star awarded by Espresso I Vini d’Italia to all production (“cooperative among the most commendable, high-quality, representative of the territory, with a defined, recognizable and stable style. The reserves in particular, paradigmically represent the Negroamaro grape and make this winery an indispensable address”);

* The inclusion in Vignaioli and Wines of Italy of Corriere della Sera (with encomium to Negroamaro, Copertino Doc and Squarciafico Rosato); “These results and acknowledgements make us proud and are an important recognition of our members’ work and of our qualitative project”, says Francesco Trono, President of the noble cooperative.

And then again:

* I Vini di Veronelli assigns 2 Stars to: Copertino Doc, Seventy-Five, Reserve, Glykòs, Falcon’s Spinel, Negroamaro, Primitivo!

* Slow Wine, from SlowFood, emphasizes the fundamental importance of Cupertinum for the quality of Salento’s enology and current innovations, and praises: the Settantacinque, the Spinello dei Falconi Rosato, the Copertino Doc, the Negroamaro and the Primitivo .

* Vitae, of the Italian Sommelier Association, dedicates us a very positive and rewarding sheet with Three Screws: Glykòs, Spinello dei Falconi and Copertino Doc Riserva; and highlights the quality/money ration of the whole range and the vitality of our project.

* Luca Maroni’s Best Wine of Italy’s Wine, consistent with his “wine-fruit” theory, likes the “really good” Salento Igt, Primitivo, Squarciafico Rosato, Spinello dei Falconi and Copertino Doc Riserva; and exalts the Glykòs Passito with a pyrotechnic organoleptic description!

* Bibenda, from the Fondazione Italiana Sommelier, praises the overall commitment of the Winery and our project of “the Vineyard on the Castle”, exalting the Glykòs (4 Bunches) and Copertino Doc Riserva, Negroamaro, Primitivo and Spinello (3 Bunches) .

“I see confirmation and surprises in the new 2026 wine guides for our wines. With these awards, Cupertinum confirms its status as a company of excellence, reliable over time, dynamic in identifying new goals and achieving them,” says Francesco Trono, president of Cupertinum. Winemaker Giuseppe Pizzolante Leuzzi, now accustomed to the awards that come flooding in year after year, is also satisfied: “The focus on quality and modern winemaking that respects tradition is understood and rewarded. These awards reward the members, the winery’s workers, and the territory.”

 Here is a brief list of recent awards and prizes received by Cupertinum wines:

  • Cupertinum has been included among the best Italian wineries in Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book guide to wines from around the world. The renowned guide, edited by Margaret Rand, recommends: Copertino Riserva, Settantacinque, Spinello dei Falconi, and Negroamaro!
  • Danielle Callegari of Wine Enthusiast award: 92 points to Copertino Riserva DOC; 91 points to Primitivo Salento IGT: “two fantastic deals from this winery that confirm the high quality of the company’s labels.”
  • Wine Spectator awards Copertino Riserva DOC 2015: 89 points and Aldieri Primitivo Salento IGT 2021: 89 points (“well-elevated reds, medium-bodied, with light tannins,” says expert Eric Guido).
  • As far as international recognition is concerned, another great result is worth mentioning: the Gold Medal at the International Wine & Spirits Awards for COPERTINO RISERVA and POGGIANI Negroamaro.
  • Guida essenziale ai vini d’Italia (DoctorWine Daniele Cernilli )awards Copertino Riserva 92 points and Spibello dei Falconi 90 points.
  • The VITAE guide published by the Sommelier Association awards 4 VITI to Settantacinque Copertino and 3 VITI to Copertino Doc, Copertino Riserva, Poggiani Negroamaro, and Spinello dei Falconi. The sommeliers write: “wines of recognized and appreciated quality; the Negroamaro, in its various forms, represents the jewel in the crown.”
  • SlowWine: Cupertinum is featured in the SlowFood guide with the TopWine award for Spinello dei Falconi and a beautiful description that highlights the advantageous quality/price ratio, with accurate and complimentary organoleptic descriptions of all the wines.
  • The Touring Club’s Vinibuoni d’Italia guide awards our wines 4 stars to Copertino DOC Riserva, Copertino DOC and Spinello dei Falconi and 3 stars to Squarciafico Rosato and Settantacinque.
  • Bibenda, the guide published by the Italian Sommelier Foundation, awards Settantacinque, Copertino DOC Riserva, Aldieri Primitivo, and Poggiani Negroamaro with 4 Grappoli.
  • The Veronelli Guide awards 3 Red Stars to Settantacinque Copertino DOC and 2 Stars to all wines, with special mention to Spinello dei Falconi and all Copertino DOC wines.
  • The Il Golosario guide by Gatti/Massobrio names Primitivo as a Top Wine.

“Wine is the song of the earth to the sky” wrote the master of food and wine criticism Luigi Veronelli. It is worth repeating this for the awards given to Cupertinum wines!