OPEN WINERIES IN SAN MARTINO PUGLIA

On Sunday, 16th November, raise your glasses to toast to the "new wine" in the wineries members of MTV Puglia



All over Italy "Cantine Aperte a San Martino" ("Open Wineries at Saint Martin’s") is back. Wine is made and the party starts! This is the slogan of this autumn event, in program on Sunday, 16th November, with which the Wine Tourism Movement offers to experts, enthusiasts and curious people the opportunity to go back to the wine cellars to discover the wines of the new vintage.

The event is made possible thanks to the collaboration of the Agri–Food Resources of the Puglia region, all day, from morning until dusk, it will be a unique opportunity to taste the new wine labels but also historical labels, meeting producers and confronting with friends and relatives.



"The second week of November and the St. Martin’s day are traditionally celebrated by the agricultural world for the special significance that connects them to the work of the winemakers and the work in the winery – Fabrizio Nardoni, Assessor of the Agri–Food Resources of the Puglia region, states. These are moments that mark a point, and, at the same time, become an opportunity to lay the foundation and look to the future. A point of arrival because we reap the results of a long–continued labor lasted a whole year; a starting point because we plan the activities in the vineyard and in the wine cellar for the months to come up with a watchful eye on a market showing more and more appreciation towards our produce. The Puglia wine, although forced through the now perennial stormy sea of a fluctuating market, has been confirming its presence for years recording a steady positive trend in terms of quantity and quality. We intend to focus on quality, still supporting the efforts of producers with actions of promotion and internationalization to feed the ambition of more and more flattering statements. The days of Saint Martin are evocative of celebration and joy. Symbolically, we rejoice together with our wine producers in the certainty that this year their professional skills, their enthusiasm, their commitment will achieve another season of encouraging success".



In Puglia, the event, now in its sixth consecutive year, will see eight wineries members of the Consortium open their doors for free offering a full program of guided tours, tastings, special events: in Daunia, for the occasion, the Alberto Longo company of Lucera (Fg) will open. In the area of Castel del Monte, not to be missed, a stop at Andria at the La Cantina di Andria and in Trani at Villa Schinosa. In the province of Bari, in Polignano a Mare, Terre di San Vito is open, while in the Magna Graecia you can stop in Lizzano at Tenute Emera. Proceeding towards Salento, wine lovers will be welcomed by the wineries Hiso Telaray Libera Puglia of Mesagne (Br), Cantina Moros of Guagnano (Le) and Marulli of Copertino (Le).



"An invitation to all wine lovers to visit, next Sunday, the wineries open for an opportunity to experience what is a traditional and symbolic step for the wine calendar – the president of the Wine Tourism Movement Puglia, Sebastiano de Corato, said. We hope that the creation of the "new wine" is an extraordinary opportunity to appreciate the goodness of the wines of our region, spending a pleasant day, in a festive atmosphere and with a warm welcome".



As usual, the participating companies organize special events such as art exhibitions, performances of traditional music and dance, tastings of typical products.

For bike lovers, the Cicloamici association of Mesagne and Brindisi organizes every year pleasant routes between wine and nature.

The feast of Saint Martin’s is all over Puglia a focal point of rural life. In ancient times, this festival was an opportunity both to celebrate the joy derived from the good harvest and the averted danger of the famine, and to express hope for a more prosperous future. To celebrate in the best way what was considered the last year of the agricultural calendar, the farmers opened the "ozze" (clay jars) or the barrels to taste the new wine, a symbol of wealth and prosperity.



After "Cantine Aperte a San Martino", the events of the Wine Tourism Movement Puglia continue with "Cantine Aperte a Natale" scheduled for 7th December in conjunction with "LoVolio Extravergine", an event dedicated to the green gold of Puglia.



All information, updates about the event and other initiatives of the Wine Tourism Movement Puglia are available on www.mtvpuglia.it and on the social pages of the Movement.