“We all have a past. The gnarled bush vines at Dei Agre have known our grandparents’ care and the dedication of their hands.” Led by Marta Cesi, the estate honours that legacy through a renewed commitment to good farming. Its approach begins with the land: the soil’s organic matter and the local microclimate help shape the wine long after the grapes have been harvested.
Regenerating the soil helps strengthen the vines’ natural defences. Delicate tasks are carried out by hand, while machinery is used for plant protection only when observation and forecasts show it is strictly necessary. After more than ten years of organic farming, wild plants, small animals and microorganisms have become indispensable partners. Ground cover encourages biodiversity in and around the vineyard; avoiding pesticides allows beneficial insects and wildlife to thrive. Soil cultivation is limited to a single operation, and environmentally compatible preparations support microbial activity and the roots’ uptake of nutrients.
Dei Agre preserves bush training because it suits both the climate and the local farming culture. Only historically established varieties are grown: Negroamaro and Primitivo, grapes as distinctive as the land that nourishes them. Production is small, artisanal and natural, and each vintage has its own identity, shaped in the vineyard. The wines can be lively and tentative like the growing vines, generous and angular like Salento’s Ionian coast: individual expressions of Marta’s farming choices.
Around Felline, these tenacious bunches and fragrant berries become what Marta calls ‘wine for pleasure’. That pleasure lies as much in the work as in the taste: pruning, caring for the soil, waiting for the first shoots, watching through the summer heat, harvesting and making wine. Seeing people’s faces as they taste the results brings just as much joy. Every sip is a celebration.
Dei Agre shares the vision of Evoluzione Naturale. Come and discover their stories and wines.
Contact details
DEI AGRE
Piazza Castello, 14
73040 Felline (LE)
Tel: +39 0833 985241
Email: info@deiagre.it
Web: deiagre.it
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