Wine of the Month - August 2020
San Marzano 'Talo' Verdeca 2019
An intense and aromatic Puglian white from Salento in the heel of Italy.
This part of Italy is mainly red wine country, but, as this expressive wine shows, there are some pretty good whites to be had here as well. Verdeca is the variety and is Puglia's main white wine grape. Refreshingly dry it has a wealth of vibrant and zesty aromas of citrus, pineapple, white peach and ripe orange flavours. Three months spent in French oak has given it a nicely judged weight and texture and there's lots going on.
Exotic fruit flavours and a creamy texture make it great with pasta and richer seafood dishes.
Cantine San Marzano
In 1962, 19 vine growers from San Marzano, deep in the Puglian heel of Italy, whose families had farmed the land for generations, combined their efforts to establish 'Cantine San Marzano'. Through the decades this co-operative has grown significantly and can now boast over 1,200 members and has a reputation for quality that has earned international renown. They are based just east of the town of Taranto in the region of Salento.
Primitivo and Negroamaro, Puglia's best-known grape varieties, form the backbone of the production, but using modern and technologically advanced vinification techniques they also produce many elegant wines from a range of other varieties as well. The fusion of time-honoured tradition, passion and contemporary techniques, enables this winery to produce wines with distinctive varietal and regional characteristics while reflecting the local terroir. A well-earned recognition of their efforts came in 2017 when they were named 'European Producer of the Year' at the Sommelier Wine Awards.
The Cantine's director Mauro di Maggio is a native of this part of the world and grew up with a connection to the winery before going to work there in 2003. As a result, he knows his members well and his close working relationships with them has helped keep the quality of fruit supplied to the winery at high levels.
