Introduction: Cupertinum — formally the Cantina Sociale Cooperativa di Copertino — is one of the oldest and most storied cooperative wineries in southern Italy, founded in 1935 by 36 visionary Salento growers who recognized the potential of their ancient volcanic and limestone soils. Today, with 300 proud member families farming 300 hectares at the heart of the Salento peninsula, Cupertinum is widely regarded as the standard-bearer for Copertino DOC and a benchmark for the Negroamaro grape at its most authentic. The Copertino Riserva is their flagship — made only in the best vintages, aged to complexity, and released as a genuine expression of everything this sun-drenched heel of Italy does best.

Terroir: The Copertino DOC spans a flat, ancient plain in the center of the Salento peninsula, midway between the Ionian and Adriatic seas, at elevations of just 30 to 60 meters above sea level. Soils are clay-rich of varying composition, resting over a substratum of hard limestone and tufa — the same dense bedrock that defines this corner of Puglia — lending the wines their characteristic mineral backbone and earthy depth. The intensely hot, dry Mediterranean climate of the deep south drives full phenolic ripeness in Negroamaro each vintage, while the surrounding seas provide a moderating maritime influence that tempers the heat and preserves the variety's naturally firm tannin structure.

Appearance: Deep ruby red with well-developed garnet at the rim — a color that speaks to both the intensity of the variety and the graceful evolution that comes with years of bottle aging.

Nose: The aromatics are rich, complex, and unmistakably Southern Italian — blackberry, dark plum, and dried fig open the bouquet, followed by layers of Mediterranean scrub, leather, tobacco leaf, and a hint of tar that give the wine its characteristic savory depth. With air, a subtle note of dried almond and blackcurrant emerges, adding elegance and further complexity to what is already a generously aromatic wine.

Palate: Full-bodied and warm, with the kind of ripe, concentrated fruit — black cherry, blackberry, ripe plum — that only a Salento summer can produce, framed by a backbone of firm yet well-integrated tannins that have softened beautifully with the years. Mediterranean herbs, leather, and black pepper weave through the mid-palate, and a thread of bright acidity provides enough lift to keep the wine's considerable weight in check. The 2017 vintage's warmth brings added richness and depth to the Riserva's already generous frame.

Finish: Long, warm, and persistent, with a lingering fade of dried fruit, bitter almond, tobacco, and stony mineral notes that is deeply satisfying and classic to the Copertino Riserva style. The tannins resolve into a smooth, velvety close that rewards patience.

Food Pairings:
🥩 Meat: Slow-braised lamb with rosemary and olives, wild boar ragù over pappardelle, or a dry-aged bistecca alla fiorentina with roasted rosemary potatoes.
🥦 Vegetarian: Pasta al forno with eggplant and ricotta salata, roasted portobello mushrooms with truffle oil, or a hearty lentil and herb stew.
🧀 Charcuterie Board: Aged Pecorino Romano, sharp Parmigiano Reggiano, sun-dried tomatoes, Castelvetrano olives, and finocchiona salami.

Overall Impression: The 2017 Cupertinum Copertino Riserva is a compelling argument for why this overlooked DOC deserves far more attention than it receives — a deeply traditional, full-bodied, terroir-driven red that offers serious complexity and character at a price that shames wines half its quality. Made only in superior vintages and released after extended aging, it is already drinking beautifully and will continue to reward cellaring. Serve at 64–66°F (18°C); drink now through 2027–2029, with the tannin structure suggesting comfortable aging potential for several additional years.

Alcohol by Volume (ABV %): ~13.5–14% (verify on bottle)
Farming Practices: Conventional cooperative viticulture; traditional Apulian bush-vine (alberello) training system; 4,500–5,000 vines per hectare; clay-limestone soils; mid-September harvest
Producer Name: Cupertinum — Cantina Sociale Cooperativa di Copertino
Old World / New World: Old World
Country of Origin: Italy
Region: Copertino DOC, Salento, Puglia
Grape Varietals:Negroamaro (primary); Malvasia Nera (minor component)
Vintage: 2017
Wine Style: Dry Red — Full-bodied
Red Winemaking Techniques: Hand-harvested Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera; maceration on skins for 7–8 days at 28°C; pressing; aging in stainless steel; extended bottle aging prior to release; produced only in the best vintages at winemaker's discretion
Pack Size: 750ml
Container Style: Glass bottle
Closure Style: Cork (verify on bottle)

Sources: Cupertinum official website