Published on Aug, 2024
If you’re thinking about planning a trip to Italy, particularly southern Italy, I highly recommend that you visit the Cantine Merinum in Vieste, Puglia. It’s a family owned, mom & pop winery with a friendly staff, a gorgeous view, a nice pool, a lovely restaurant & bar with fantastic food, and rooms you can stay in for astonishingly cheap prices! You can tour the vineyard, taste the grapes and olives grown there, sample the wines paired with pugliese dishes, relax by the pool, and you can drive or walk to the incredible beach nearby within minutes.
Cinthya(pronounced Chintsia), part owner and granddaughter of the man who started the winery, gave us a tour. With her knowledge and passion for her wines and of Puglia in general, she is as impressive as her vineyard. It’s rare to meet someone in the United States who knows so much about the local culture, flora & fauna, foods & beverages, natural resources, customs & traditions, conservation & preservation efforts, and history of their region. She takes great pride in being an Pugliese italian and a third generation winemaker. What would our towns be like in America if more of us had such pride in our respective places and practices? There are many reasons why Italy is as impressive as it is, and I believe the collective mindset of the Italian people is chief among them. 
Again, if you want an exceptional experience for a surprisingly low price, I can’t recommend Cantine Merinum enough. My wife and I loved it, and we couldn’t help brining back some goodies. Their Bombino Biancho, Malvasia Nera Rosé, Nero Di Troia, and Olive Oil were just too delicious to leave behind!
