Our Story
Tradition for Claudio Quarta also translates into the rediscovery of the taste of the past. Thus was born the idea of continuing an ancient production already existing in the small cellar taken over in Guagnano. They are the “ANTICA MASSERIA DEL SIGILLO” wines, with a clear traditional imprint, already known and appreciated by the foreign market, and American in particular, which continue to live thanks to the grapes of the Tenute Eméra and Sanpaolo vineyards and to the traditional production techniques. Like the Primitivo di Manduria Antica Masseria del Sigillo, Top 100 Wine Spectator 2016, now vinified in Eméra in cement tanks, just as it used to be.
Our Region
Puglia is a long, thin wine region in the far south-eastern corner of the 'boot' of Italy. Where the north is slightly hillier and more connected to the customs and winemaking practices of central Italy, the south is almost entirely flat and retains a strong connection with its Greco-Roman past. Puglia lends itself to division into three rough viticultural areas, which correspond neatly to its administrative provinces: Foggia in the north, Bari and Taranto in the middle and Brindisi and Lecce in the south.
The "true" Puglia is to be found in the south, below the Brindisi–Taranto line, which traces the southernmost stretch of the Appian Way. Here the wines are made from grape varieties almost unique to the area, while in the north the prevalent grapes are those used all over central and northern Italy. In terms of terroir, Puglia has a formidable array of natural tools to help encourage prolific vine growth. The hot Mediterranean climate, persistent sunshine and occasional sea breezes make for a near-perfect environment for viticulture.
The region’s geology shows a bias towards cretaceous limestone under layers of iron-rich quaternary deposits, most visible in the soils around the Colline Joniche Tarantine hills and near Martina Franca and Locorotondo in the Itria Valley. Source: wine-searcher.com
Our Vineyard(s)
We are located in the heart of the PDOs of Manduria and Lizzano in Puglia. A large vineyard close to the sea that extends over a property of about 80 hectares, of which almost 50 are planted in 2007. In addition to the indigenous varieties such as Primitivo, Negroamaro and Fiano, international vines such as Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay have been planted, following a rigorous micro-zoning scheme. Here was planted what probably represents the largest biodiversity vineyard in the world, with about 500 varieties of minor vines, mainly of Caucasian and Mediterranean origin. A project launched in collaboration with the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Milan with the aim of preserving a unique source of biodiversity and continuing to study the characteristics and quality potential of the vines.