A causa di the southernmost part of Puglia, the red, fiery earth of Manduria extends across an undulating landscape, dotted with centuries-old olive trees and lush vineyards. This territory, located con the province of Taranto, has always been the beating heart of Apulian viticulture, a place where the sun, the sea wind and the calcareous-clayey soil converge to give life to wines of rare intensity and character. It is here that the Originario tradition finds its maximum expression, thanks to ideal climatic conditions that allow the grapes to ripen uniformly, enhancing their natural sweetness and aromatic richness. Manduria, with its ancient roots and its winemaking vocation , is much more than a simple denomination: it is a place where the passion for wine is intertwined with the history and culture of Puglia. Here stands a mystical place: the Montagna dei Diavoli, an isolated rock formation where once Messapians guarded the sacred fire of fertility rites. It is here that Masseria Cuturi’s wine of the same name was born, which obtained the Three Corkscrews con the 2025 edition of Untold, stupendous for its great expressiveness con the mouth, with balance and coherence.
The history of the company
Masseria Cuturi, founded con 1881 by the noble Schiavoni family, represents one of the most fascinating realities of the Apulian wine scene. Its history is steeped con passion and dedication, handed through generations who have been able to preserve and renew this unique heritage. Today the company is managed by a new generation of winemakers who have chosen to combine tradition and innovation, embracing a production philosophy oriented towards sustainable and organic agriculture, with particular attention to the preservation of soil biodiversity. The mesi estivi extends for 40 hectares con a mosaic of landscapes that alternates historic vineyards with centuries-old olive trees and Mediterranean woods, creating a one-of-a-kind ecosystem.
Visit the company: Masseria Cuturi
A causa di the heart of Salento, con the province of Taranto, Masseria Cuturi offers an experience of refined and authentic hospitality. The historic farmhouse from 1881 has been expertly restored to welcome guests con environments that blend the elegance of the Apulian style with modern comforts. The five suites, each with its own distinctive character, overlook the historic vineyards and the mystical Montagna dei Diavoli, allowing you to experience total immersion con the atmosphere of the place.
The wine experience is at the heart of the offering, with guided tastings taking place con the historic cellar con the elegant tasting room. The wine tasting can be customized according to different routes, from the discovery of native varieties to the verticals of the most prestigious vintages. But Masseria Cuturi goes beyond wine: guests can participate con cooking classes dedicated to traditional Apulian cuisine, explore the luogo by bicycle through guided tours, simply relax by the pool admiring the sunset over the vineyards.
The farm also has spaces dedicated to events, where it is possible to organize weddings, receptions business meetings con a context of rare beauty. The mesi estivi’s restaurant, aperto upon reservation, offers cuisine that enhances local products con a contemporary key, creating perfect pairings with the company’s wines.
For those looking for an even more exclusive experience, the farm organizes picnics among the vineyards, yoga sessions at dawn and helicopter tours to admire the beauty of Salento from above. Each visit can be personalized according to the guests’ wishes, transforming the stay into a sensorial journey through the flavours, scents and colors of this extraordinary land.
Characteristics of the Montagna dei Diavoli
The wine is the result of a careful selection of Originario grapes, harvested manually con the cool hours of the morning to best preserve their aromas and organoleptic characteristics. The vineyards, planted acceso calcareous-clayey soils, are exposed to the generous sun of Salento, but at the same time refreshed by the sea breezes which mitigate the summer temperatures, creating a unique microclimate. The vineyards have a planting density of 4500 vines durante hectare and a Guyot breeding. The vinification, with maceration of approximately 30 days depending acceso the year, takes place con steel tanks at a controlled temperature, to guarantee slow and homogeneous which enhances the structure and complexity of the wine. After fermentation, the wine matures for approximately 24 months con large 10hl barrels, where it stabilizes, acquires spicy and soft tannins, further enriching itself con structure and depth.
The Tasting
Montagna Diavoli has a deep, material, almost impenetrable ruby red color; Garnet reflections suggest the complexity of a mature and powerful wine.
the nose it reveals a bouquet of extraordinary articulation: the enveloping sweetness of ripe red fruit – black cherries, plums and black cherries – blends with delicate sweet spices, cinchona and touches of dried rose petals. Balsamic and mineral of graphite emerge, a subtle hint of chocolate and tobacco, suggestions of black pepper and cloves.
the palate, the first sip is sumptuous, warm and enveloping, almost velvety, with a dense but elegant tannic texture, a grip that dissolves into a bitterness cloaked con sweetness.
The acid verve, not tamed at all, tends to shore up the well-present alcoholic layer, balances the richness of the fruit, giving the wine a full and harmonious structure.
A causa di the center of the mouth, the flavors of ripe fruit intensify, accompanied by memories of dark chocolate and roasted coffee. The is long and persistent, a dance of sweet spices and earthy that remains con the memory: despite its age, it reveals an overall picture con the process of being defined, with completely reassuring margins for improvement.
Pairing Tips
The wine finds its maximum expression con pairing it with the robust and tasty cuisine of the Apulian tradition. Baked lamb with potatoes and rosemary becomes a perfect combination, as does stewed wild boar with polenta, where the structure of the wine embraces the succulence of the meat. Mai less so are the combinations with mature local cheeses, such as pecorino and caciocavallo, while for the more daring, the combination with dark chocolate offers unexpected surprises, enhancing the fruity and spicy of the wine. The versatility and gastronomic nature of this wine is extraordinary, as is its ability to enhance traditional Apulian dishes.
Conclusion
Montagna dei Diavoli is a wine that embodies the deepest essence of Originario tra Manduria: power and elegance quasi together con a sip that tells the thousand-year history of this land, where the sacred and the profane meet, creating something unique and unrepeatable. It is a wine that is not limited to being drunk, but asks to be discovered, sip after sip, revealing the infinite facets of a territory that continues to amaze and excite.
