Masseria Cuturi 'Zacinto' Negroamaro Puglia IGT, Italy

Wild cherry, violet, and sweet spice rise from a deep ruby-red glass with fresh, distinctly Mediterranean energy. 2022 Masseria Cuturi 'Zacinto' Negroamaro Salento IGT is a pure Negroamaro named for Zacinto, the estate’s historic farm manager, who according to local tradition loved the variety enough to secretly reserve a barrel for himself each year. Fermented and matured in stainless steel, it reflects the Rossi-Chauvenet family’s pursuit of a lighter, more balanced interpretation of southern Italian varieties while preserving the agricultural memory of Cuturi.

Product Details:

• Producer: Masseria Cuturi
• Owner: Rossi-Chauvenet family
• Winemaker: Valentino Ciarla
• Vintage: 2022
• Grapes: 100% Negroamaro
• Farming: Certified organic
• Training: Espalier with Guyot pruning
• Harvest Period: Mid-September
• Fermentation: Temperature-controlled stainless steel at 22 to 28 degrees Celsius
• Maceration: On the skins in stainless steel
• Malolactic Fermentation: Stainless steel
• Aging: Approximately 3 months in stainless steel
• Residual Sugar: Less than 3 g/L
• TA: Approximately 6.0 g/L
• ABV: 13.5%

Sensory Description:

Deep ruby red with violet reflections, the wine opens with fragrant wild cherry, blackberry, red fruit, violet, and sweet spice. Floral and herbal notes emerge across the palate, where the texture is velvety and rounded yet carried by lively acidity and polished tannins. A subtle savory and saline impression adds definition, leading into a delicate, persistent finish with lingering fruit, herbs, and spice.

Awards & Accolades:

• Score: Falstaff 90 Points, 2023

Producer’s Background:

Masseria Cuturi occupies a historic agricultural estate near Manduria whose modern wine story reaches back to 1881, when Tommaso Schiavoni Tafuri and Countess Sabini planted Primitivo cuttings brought from Altamura. The Rossi-Chauvenet family acquired the property in 2008 and began restoring its vineyards and historic buildings, with agronomist Camilla Rossi-Chauvenet now guiding the estate. Their work emphasizes indigenous varieties, organic agriculture, biodiversity, and wines shaped more by freshness and balance than sheer southern Italian power. Zacinto turns that philosophy toward Negroamaro while preserving the memory of the massaro for whom the wine is named, the farm manager traditionally responsible for both vineyard work and grape quality.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve at 16 to 18 degrees Celsius in a medium to large red wine glass to highlight the wine’s fragrant fruit, herbal detail, and rounded texture. Pair with braised or roasted meats, savory pasta dishes, herb-seasoned foods, spicy sausages, salumi, or semi-aged cheeses. Its combination of ripe fruit, fresh acidity, and savory character also makes it a natural partner for rustic Puglian dishes built around tomatoes, herbs, and grilled meats.