Angiuli Donato (Puglia, Italy)

Angiuli Donato is a small, family-owned winery with deep historical roots in Puglia, southern Italy. Established in 1880, the estate has been dedicated to the cultivation, vinification and bottling of fine wines for well over a century. Today, successive generations of the Donato family continue this tradition, producing distinctive wines that faithfully express the unique terroir of the renowned Primitivo di Gioia del Colle DOP appellation.

The winery specializes in Primitivo, one of southern Italy's most celebrated indigenous grape varieties, genetically related to Zinfandel in California and Crljenak Kaštelanski (the ancestral Croatian variety from which Plavac Mali descends). Angiuli Donato's vineyards, located around Alberobello, are planted with exceptional Primitivo vines averaging 50 to 80 years of age. These mature vines naturally produce low yields, resulting in grapes of remarkable concentration, complexity and character.

Great emphasis is placed on traditional, low-intervention winemaking. Grapes are harvested entirely by hand to preserve their quality before undergoing temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Fermentation relies exclusively on indigenous yeasts naturally present on the grape skins, allowing each vintage to authentically reflect its origin and preserving the distinctive identity of the local vineyard ecosystem.

Following fermentation, the wines mature for approximately two years in traditional underground cement tanks, a time-honoured method that promotes gentle evolution while maintaining freshness and varietal purity. Bottling is carried out under an inert nitrogen atmosphere to protect the wine from oxidation and preserve its vibrant aromas.

The estate's flagship label, Maccone, exemplifies the exceptional concentration achievable from these old Primitivo vines. Characterised by an unusually high dry extract—typically around 50 g/L, depending on the vintage—the wine delivers impressive depth, richness and structure while maintaining remarkable balance and elegance. Despite naturally elevated alcohol levels, often ranging from 14% to 17%, Maccone remains harmonious and approachable, displaying intense aromas of ripe dark fruit, spice and Mediterranean herbs with a long, velvety finish. It is a compelling expression of one of Italy's oldest and most distinctive Primitivo-growing regions.