SlowFood’s SlowWine Guide, since its inception, has always dedicated words of praise to Cupertinum Winery for the company’s commitment – oenological and social – and the high quality of its wines. And, if in the 2023 edition Negroamaro received the TopWine, in the 2024 edition (avalaible in bookstores from October) the “golden palm” has passed to the rosé Spinello dei Falconi Salento Igt, obtained from pure Negroamaro, which has now become one of the oenological symbols not only of the historic Copertino winery but of the entire Salento region. This new recognition has been broadcasted by the editorial staff of SlowWine, precisely from Giancarlo Gariglio, its director.
Satisfied winemaker Giuseppe Pizzolante Leuzzi: “Both in Italy and abroad, we have always been a reality that gives security for the quality of its wines. Seriousness pays off in the long run, and thanks to this award we continue to enhance not only our wines but also the territory and its tourist and cultural riches.” President Francesco Trono adds that “our historic winery is in tune with the goals of ‘good, fair, clean’ of SlowFood, which has particular attention to the enhancement of the territory, the environment, and food and wine products, which is precisely why we are happy with this affirmation, which confirms the awards obtained in recent years: WineSpectator, Decanter, Joe Bastianich, Vinous, Vitae/AIS, Bibenda/FIS, Veronelli, Vinibuoni, etc.”
The Rosé of Salento according to Giuseppe Pizzolante Leuzzi. “Salento is the region where this method of winemaking has maintained the strongest ties to tradition. The winemaking originates from the ancient lacrima – obtained percolating liquid through the weaves of the burlap sacks that contained Negroamaro grapes – nowadays replaced by winemaking by hat-raising: after destemming, the crushed grapes are left to ferment and wait for the solid part, consisting of the skins, to rise on the surface, so to form what is known in the jargon as the cappello; at that point only the flower, the lightly colored must, is extracted, which finishes fermentation. Rosé is the wine of a night: in the span of a few hours it acquires its color characteristics, from coral pink to more subdued nuances. Versatility in food pairings, aromas, flavor and freshness are the main characteristics of this symbolic wine of Salento.”