The Salice Salentino Riserva Santa Croce di Vigneti Reale bears the name of the Basilica of Lecce, a masterpiece of Salento baroque. The Reale Agricultural Company is located in the municipality of Cellino San Marco, between the provinces of Brindisi and Lecce. It covers a flat area of 180 hectares, of which approximately 100 are cultivated with vineyards and the rest with olive groves. The Ionian Sea is 20 km to the west, the Adriatic Sea is 10 km to the east, therefore the thermal excursion is guaranteed by the cool sea winds; the company's land is sandy-loamy with a reddish color and low limestone content. Santa Croce is composed of 80% Negroamaro and 20% Malvasia Nera. Grapes are harvested between late August and early September, they ferment in steel with temperature control, then the wine ages for 12 months in French oak barrels and at least 6 months in the bottle.

SALICE SALENTINO RISERVA SANTA CROCE VIGNETI REALE: THE TASTING

The Salice Salentino Riserva Santa Croce di Vigneti Reale has a splendid garnet color. On the nose, it offers quince paste, cherry in spirit, black pepper, and wild mint; on the palate, it is ample, enveloping, with refined tannins, good citrus freshness, and pleasant sapidity. The pairing with tonnarello cacio e pepe is very interesting, while the more traditional pairing is with grilled meat.