Few people know that the Fiano variety was known to Frederick II of Swabia and to Charles I of Anjou as long ago as the 13th century, and that it was cultivated right here in the Salento area. The Zonin family has retrieved it from oblivion, finding in the soils of Masseria Altemura an ideal microclimate for proving that one can obtain an outstanding white even in Puglia. The recuperation of clones of this variety was not a simple task, but the result is a gratifying glimpse of winemaking history enclosed in a bottle. The balance of taste sensations, with hints of almonds, orange blossom, peaches and aromatic herbs, conveys the atmosphere of a unique habitat set like a jewel between the two Seas. One can taste the Ionian and the Adriatic in the refi ned salty and mineral notes and the crisp, elegant freshness on the palate. Thanks to the wine’s brilliant highlights, one might defi ne it as “the gold of Salento”.
APPELLATION
Salento IGT
AREA
Agro of Torre Santa Susanna, Salento
VINIFICATION AND AGEING
The grapes are picked when they are very ripe; they are then delicately crushed and the must is extracted in soft bladder presses. The traditional white wine fermentation takes place at controlled temperatures of between 18° and 20° C (64° – 68° F).
