De Maio is a family of agriculture. Grandfather Domenico already grew olive trees in Rignano Garganico in Puglia. After moving to San Severo, he taught his son and grandson the love for olives and the vines.
Antonio De Maio, the grandson, who is now in charge, has been pruning olive trees, harvesting grapes and learned to make wine when he was a child. The “underground cellar type of wine” he says, very popular around San Severo in the 70ies.
In 2010 he began the renovation works for an old farm with a proper cellar and in 2013 he started transforming grapes into wine with the help of his son-in-law Giovanni. The procedure is traditional, the grapes organic. “As little interven- tion in the vineyard as possible, spontaneous fermentation in the cellar and no filtration, as my father taught me and as I am teaching my sons“.
Today the estate has about 35 hectares of vineyards, mainly of native vines (Bombino and Nero di Troia) and Peranzana olives.
Tenuta De Maio is a contemporary model of respect for nature and tradition in the most sustainable way.