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Commitment to sustainability and heritage sees Manduria shine

31 May 2023 By db staff writer

The success of Produttori di Manduria has been driven through its deep-rooted commitment to sustainability, tradition and quality wine-making, the co-operative has claimed.

Produttori di Manduria, situated in the region of Puglia, marked the the winery’s 90th anniversary in 2022 and is the oldest winery in the region. Today, more than 400 members continue to contribute to the success of the company, with farmers spanning all ages safeguarding ancient wine-making traditions, it said.

It is also one of the largest wineries in Puglia with more than 1,200 hectares of vineyards in the heart of the Manduria appellation. Primitivo was once considered a low-ranking variety, mostly grown to strengthen the noble wines of France and northern Italy, but in 1974, the Italian government recognised Manduria as a DOC appellation.

One of the key reasons for the success of the cooperative is their deep-rooted commitment to sustainable practices, it said. The company is Equalitas certified, a sustainability accreditation that ensures an integrated approach to sustainability across the entire business, through three pillars: social – the ability to guarantee conditions of human well-being; environmental – the ability to maintain the reproducibility of resources; and economic – the ability to generate income and work.

The winery has a collection of some of the oldest vines in the Puglia region, some of which are more than 70 years old. These vines produce grapes that are distinctly concentrated in flavour and aromas that are unique to old vines, it said. Additionally, the winery has won more than 200 awards and medals, including the Tre Bicchieri award from Gambero Rosso.

Their wines are sold in over 30 countries around the world, focused on distribution in independent wine shops and restaurants. The winery’s largest export market is the United Kingdom, with presences in the United States, Germany, and Canada. The winery has seen sales growth increasing by over 20% year on year.

The heritage of the area is represented through Produttori di Manduria’s wine museum in Puglia, dedicated to the history and culture of wine production in the region. Housed in an ancient palazzo, the museum has been restored and converted into a modern exhibition space. Inside, visitors can explore a range of exhibits that showcase the various stages of wine production, from the cultivation of grapes to the bottling and aging of wine.