Cantine San Marzano

Cantine San Marzano was founded in 1962 by just 19 vine growers from the town of San Marzano di San Giuseppe, whose families had farmed the surrounding land for generations. Viticulture in the San Marzano area stretches back over 1,000 years, and the cooperative was established to pool resources and bring collective strength to the region's winemaking traditions. Francesco Cavallo has served as president since 1982, overseeing the winery's transformation from a bulk wine producer into a leading branded wine operation. That transition accelerated through the 1990s, when the cooperative modernized its bottling facilities and shifted decisively toward bottled, labeled wines.

• Founded 1962 by 19 growers with generational ties to the land
• Francesco Cavallo has led the cooperative as president since 1982
• Transitioned from bulk to branded wine production in the 1990s
• Viticulture history in the San Marzano area exceeds 1,000 years

San Marzano di San Giuseppe sits at the geographical center of the Primitivo di Manduria DOP appellation, positioned between the Ionian and Adriatic seas in southern Puglia. The climate is classic Mediterranean, with high temperatures year-round, very little rainfall, and wide day-to-night temperature swings that help preserve acidity and aromatic complexity in the grapes. Soils are fine-textured residual red earths with a calcareous substrate and a high iron oxide content, giving them excellent water retention and mineral character. These conditions are ideally suited to the thick-skinned, drought-tolerant Primitivo vine.

• Situated between the Ionian and Adriatic seas in central Puglia
• Mediterranean climate with high heat, low rainfall, and wide diurnal range
• Red soils with calcareous substrate and high iron oxide content
• Conditions favor drought-tolerant Primitivo and other native varieties

The cooperative's 1,500 hectares are planted primarily to indigenous southern Italian varieties, led by Primitivo and Negroamaro. Malvasia Nera, Verdeca, Susumaniello, and the rare Maresco are also cultivated, along with international varieties Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Cantine San Marzano played a central role in reviving Susumaniello and Maresco, both of which had fallen into near obscurity. The top wines draw from old bush vines, which are managed as family gardens using entirely manual labor. This labor-intensive approach is essential to maintaining the quality and integrity of vines that are 60 years old or more.

• Primary varieties: Primitivo, Negroamaro, Malvasia Nera, and Verdeca
• Also cultivates rare Susumaniello and Maresco, both revived by the cooperative
• International varieties Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc also grown
• Old bush vines managed by hand, treated as family gardens

The cooperative's most celebrated wine is Sessantanni, a Primitivo di Manduria DOP aged in barrel and sourced exclusively from vines over 60 years old. The name itself means 'sixty years' in Italian. The winery produces a broad portfolio spanning full-bodied reds, rosé wines, and a sweet Primitivo Passito. Aging takes place in a combination of French, American, and Caucasian oak barriques, with cellar capacity reaching 3,000 barrels. This diversity of oak origin contributes distinct aromatic nuances to different cuvées.

• Sessantanni is made from 60+ year old bush vines within Primitivo di Manduria DOP
• Portfolio includes full-bodied reds, rosé, and sweet Passito styles
• Uses French, American, and Caucasian oak with 3,000 barrique capacity
• Produces approximately 20 million bottles per year across the range