Donna Coletta – Wine Culture and Territory

The Donna Coletta project is young but has a strong and rapid growth perspective. Despite its recent establishment, this line shows great potential and gains public approval thanks to its combination of tradition and modernity. The strength lies in the attention to detail and the romantic vocation of the labels, which, like the Leone de Castris references, are inspired by family and territory. Currently, the line includes two red wines and a rosé from Primitivo, but the addition of a wine from Fiano grapes is planned for the coming years. The Fiano vineyard was planted in 2022, and very soon it will be possible to taste a new white. The estate’s vineyards cover about ten hectares, with a small part dedicated to Fiano. The first production is expected in 2026, with a yield of about 7,000 bottles. Fiano is included among the wines eligible for IGT Puglia due to its characteristics that align with the territory. The region has historical references to Fiano Minutolo, and this variety expresses fruity and floral scents with pleasant freshness.

The currently available references are Marisa Primitivo Rosato Puglia IGT, Colpo di Zappa Primitivo Gioia del Colle DOC, and Saliscendi Primitivo Gioia del Colle DOC Riserva.

Marisa is the rosé dedicated to Marisa Violante, who spent her summer vacations at the farm. The label recalls the salient features of her face and the scarf that Piernicola’s mother loved to wear as a sign of elegance. The rosé is delicate with vivid reflections and an intense and persistent aroma, with hints of black cherry, and wild violets; on the palate, it is soft, harmonious, with a long and pleasantly savory finish.

Colpo di Zappa captures the image of the beginning of the generational transition: the first intervention on the land, immortalized first in a photo and then printed on the label by Piernicola Leone de Castris and his son Piersalvatore before planting the vineyards in Noci. A bouquet of red fruits and spices introduces a wine with a pleasantly soft and enveloping sip. Its intensity and dynamism distinguish it, making it a wine of great structure and elegance.

Saliscendi celebrates the gentle curves of the silhouette of the territory, an undulating of unpredictable reliefs with original and inimitable connotation. The Riserva presents itself with a ruby red color that anticipates the generosity of the bouquet of aromas of sweet spices, including vanilla and cloves, along with ripe red fruits that we find on the nose. On the palate, it is soft and enveloping, with a dense texture of silky tannins and notes of vanilla and chocolate that make the sip long and persistent.

Donna Coletta wines stem from the desire to experiment with new productions, give importance and popularity to the territory, and tell the story of Puglia in its different facets that can be seen even just a few kilometers apart.

The Donna Coletta estate has been a small family jewel since 1886, owned by Michele Violante, the maternal great-great-grandfather of Piernicola Leone de Castris, who started the agricultural activity. Love and passion for wine have been passed down from generation to generation in a business project that looks to the future, strengthening tradition with new ideas in the territory of Noci for five generations.

The project is very courageous as the estate is located in the Bassa Murgia, from the Latin Murex – sharp rock. The main characteristic is indeed a soil rich in rocks and low in fertility, a challenge that, however, has excited the Leone de Castris team, always inclined to experimentation.

A new lifeblood, by Piernicola, who has replanted the historical vineyards of the DOC Gioia del Colle area, where Primitivo was imported by the Benedictines in the 12th century. Originally called Primitivo due to its early ripening, it has found its chosen area in Murgia also thanks to its late budding, an essential feature to avoid spring frosts.

To emphasize the importance and beauty of a territory so rich in peculiarities, there is also the corporate vision of creating a hospitality structure where one can experience Bassa Murgia all year round. A place where the vines follow the waves of the landscape and are influenced by a unique microclimatic condition, different from any other territory in the region, with an altitude of about 500 meters above sea level, proximity to the sea, strong temperature variation, low rainfall, and wind, a constant feature of the area. The result of these factors is a wine with extremely recognizable organoleptic characteristics and character, able to reproduce all the nuances of the terroir.

The vineyards are heterogeneously distributed across the territory along with olive groves and wooded areas, limiting the impact that a monoculture like the vine would entail. The planting density, choice of grape varieties, and training system were determined to integrate into the landscape of the Noci area.

Almost all actions are performed by hand, as the terrain does not allow for high mechanization, a conscious choice that brings the company closer to sensitive agriculture.

The result is the production of savory wines, supported by good acidity, low yields, and high quality.