
Cignomoro
Cignomoro, a boutique Italian winery, was founded in 2008 by Ciro Matichecchia and Hugo Rojo de Castro, a Spaniard by birth. The vines grow in the region of Puglia on land once farmed by Ciro’s grandparents. The winery is located in Martina-Franca at the top of the heel of Italy’s boot, 12 straight-line miles from the Adriatic Sea in the east, and 17 miles from the Gulf of Taranto in the southwest. The name Cignomoro translates to black swan, lending an elegance to their wine and separating it from the mainstream “white swan” wine producers.
Puglia, a premier wine-growing region, stretches down the southeast coast of Italy and includes what is called the “heel of the boot.” The heel itself is known as Salento. Grapes are believed to have been grown in this area by the ancient Greeks as far back as the seventh century BC.
White wine grapes are grown in the Itria Valley at an elevation of 450 meters, while the grapes for red wines are cultivated in Manduria, further south along the Gulf of Taranto in the Salento region. The hot, sunny days, red, calcareous earth, and moderating microclimate of “Mare Nostrum” – the Mediterranean – create the perfect terroir.
The partners specialize in traditional varieties, such as Primitivo, Negroamaro, Susumaniello for reds, and Minutolo, Bianco di Alessano, and Verdeca for whites. At Cignomoro – in true boutique fashion – every single bottle is part of a limited production. Grapes are harvested by hand and respected ancient practices are blended with modern techniques.