Tenuta Girolamo

Tenute Girolamo is a family estate in the heart of the Valle d'Itria in the southern Italian region of Puglia. The winery was founded by Michele Girolamo, who returned to his native soil in 2001 to realise his dream of owning a wine business. Today the estate is run by his son Piero Girolamo, who combines family tradition with modern viticultural techniques.

The vineyards cover around 40 hectares and lie at an altitude of roughly 400 to 500 metres above sea level. Thanks to this relatively cool setting within Puglia, the grapes benefit from large differences between day and night temperatures. This ensures slow ripening, retained freshness and fine aromatic complexity in the wines. The limestone-rich soils with red clay also contribute structure, minerality and elegance.

Although Tenute Girolamo is firmly rooted in Apulian tradition, the winery deliberately opts for a combination of indigenous and international grape varieties. Local varieties such as Primitivo, Negroamaro, Susumaniello, Aglianico, Verdeca and Fiano form the core of the range. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot are also planted to create different styles and blends.

The philosophy of Tenute Girolamo centres on quality over quantity. The grapes are carefully selected, and for several of the top wines an appassimento technique is used, in which the grapes are partially dried after harvest to intensify aromas, sugars and concentration of flavour. For ageing, the estate has an impressive barricaia of around 1,200 m² filled with French oak barrels, in which many of the premium wines undergo extended élevage.

The range includes powerful reds such as Conte Giangirolamo, Argese Primitivo, Monte dei Cocci Primitivo, Codalunga Aglianico and Monte Tre Carlini Negroamaro, as well as fresh whites from Verdeca and Fiano and elegant rosés from the Valle d'Itria. The style is characterised by ripe fruit, refined oak influence, soft tannins and a striking balance between power and elegance.

Alongside wine production, Tenute Girolamo places great emphasis on wine tourism. Visitors can join tours of the vineyards and the barricaia, followed by tastings in which the wines are paired with traditional Apulian specialities. In this way the family aims not only to introduce its wines, but also to share the culture, gastronomy and hospitality of the region.