The grape picking in Salento in Puglia is led by women

The grape picking in Salento in Puglia is led by women. On the Tenute Rubino estate by the sea close to Brindisi wine production has a singing, dancing feminine touch.

When I was a student back in the 70's I was drawn one year, like many before and after, to the grape picking in France. Dressed in shorts, T shirt and boots we awakened before sunrise and headed out on the back of a tractor trailer into the fields, a merry band of multi generations and multiple nationalities, to spend the day in the hot sun picking ripe red grapes from the bountiful vines.

It turned out to be a life changer for me and I went back later to spend a whole year immersed with a French farming family, learning the language and the rich cycle of wine production in the Bordeaux region. Engaged at all levels, driving the tractor, pruning the vines, planting new ones, measuring the alcohol levels at the local cooperative, I did it all and enjoyed every minute.

What I found was a culture of passionate people with deep traditions and a profound pride in the wine they produced. Living with their fate in the lap of the gods each year, always wondering if there would be too much rain in the spring which may threaten the vines with fungal infection or if there would be enough sunshine in the Autumn to produce a great vintage and a host of other natural variants.

Neighbours helped each other with big tasks and the sense of local community was very strong but there was always a willingness to welcome foreign workers and treat them as part of the family. I have rarely encountered so many happy people and such diversity.

So when I discovered the women viticulture's of Salento I couldn't help but smile and appreciate their camaraderie, their singing and dancing and also their expertise and passion for the process of wine production. The fact that the women lead the way adds a fun and unique aspect to the wine production of the Tenute Rubino estate.

Wine has been produced in the Puglia aka Apulia region of Italy, deep in the south, for over 2000 years. You can still enjoy the fruits of many years of skilled, passionate work today and in Tenute Rubino women lead the way.

The great wine is just one of many reasons why you should consider a villa holiday in the heal of Italy, let us help you choose the rght place for your family.