Conti Zecca

Conti Zecca’s History and Philosophy

The Counts Zecca , originating from the city of Naples, arrived in Puglia something like five hundred years ago, and for over five centuries they dedicated their time, energy, capital and commitment to the agricultural wealth they found in Salento. It is something more than mere possessions, virtually an empire of 320 hectares of vineyards in total, divided into four different estates, Cantalupi , Donna Marzia , Santo Stefano , Saraceno, each of which gives its name to the wines it produces. This is to preserve what was called in Latin “genius loci”, the spirit of the place, the precise personality that the specific conditions of the soil and micro-climate give to the character of the grapes that are grown and the wines that are produced there.

Production is quite important in terms of the number of bottles offered annually, and the company was, in fact, among the first to dedicate itself to bottling wine, all this in a place and in a period in which bulk wine came in large quantities part shipped north for mixing. The bulk of the production consists of wines made with the greatest varieties of local grapes, Primitivo , Negroamaro , Malvasia Nera and Malvasia Bianca , together with the most recent introductions of Vermentino and Aglianico . Loyalty to grapes and regional wines is undisputed, but it is not a matter of mental closure: both Chardonnay and Cabernet grapes are located among the vineyards of the estate.

The wines of Conti Zecca

The line includes both mono-varietal wines and classic blends of the region: traditional, especially in the case of red wines, Negroamaro , Primitivo , and Malvasia Nera which were normally mixed together or, very simply, a series of different grape varieties were planted. A more modern practice, however, has established itself to enhance the specific characteristics of the different varieties, particularly in the selections.

Choosing individual wines in such a vast and varied range of offers is not easy, but among the best and most popular offers we must include the Cantalupi Negroamaro, the Primitivo Rifugio, and the white wine Luna. At the top of the line are Terra, a pure Aglianico, and Nero, Negroamaro and Cabernet Sauvignon, the latest proof that even a five-hundred-year-old company can keep up with the times.

Nero