"Mieru”: this is the dialectal expression used to refer to wine. This expression is due to the intense and lively character of the wine made in Salento and has its origins in the Latin expression merum (“true”, “straightforward”) that the Romans used to distinguish it from the Greek one that was more light and watered-down.

The importance of wine is highlighted by the celebrations in honour of Saint Martino of Tours (11 November). The peasant tradition says that this day the must becomes wine. Celebrations are spread in all Salento and according to the tradition at San Martino some wine bottles of the former grape harvest are broached and the new wine is tasted. Salento began to invest seriously in quality wines only a few years ago, but obtained great results and recognitions in the most important wine exhibitions. Quality wines are the red wines: Primitivo, Negroamaro, Malvasia nera; the white wines: Malvasia Bianca, Bombino bianco, Verdeca; and last but not least, the rosé wines that have been re-evaluated, especially some names that have reached very high quality standards.

There are also some wines less famous but not less good: Bombino nero, Aleatico di Puglia, Ottavianello, Sunsumaniello for the red wines; Bianco di Alessano and Pampanuto for the white wines.

Translate by: Anna