Aterra
Orta Nova (FG) - PUGLIA
Aterra is the story of two people, Andrea, a lawyer from Bari who has lived in London for over a decade, and Marta, an oenologist from Margherita di Savoia in northern Puglia. They met over a tank of Primitivo, during Andrea’s first vintage, when Marta was working as a winemaker in Noci. What began as a shared curiosity soon became a shared conviction: that Puglia’s native varieties and ancient vines could express something far more authentic than the region’s large-scale production would suggest.
Their dream took root between London and Puglia — a small, hands-on project built on sustainability, tradition and respect for the land. The vineyards are spread across three distinct terroirs: the red, iron-rich soils of Sannicandro di Bari, where 50-year-old bush vines grow just 25 kilometres from the Adriatic; the pale, clay-rich valley of Orta Nova, shaped by the Carapelle river; and Ruvo di Puglia, with its rocky soils and higher altitude, home to their old Nero di Troia vines. Each site brings a different note — depth and minerality from Sannicandro, softness and fruit from Orta Nova, structure and freshness from Ruvo.
In the vineyard, everything is done with care and restraint. The team works organically, without systemic chemicals — only sulphur and copper for protection — and enriches the soil with green cover crops and composted stems from their own harvests. The wind is a constant ally, flowing between the Adriatic and the Apennines to keep the vines healthy and the fruit naturally fresh.
The cellar is a place of quiet simplicity. Fermentations happen at controlled temperatures after a gentle pre-maceration, and the wines rest for a few months in stainless steel before bottling. Nothing is rushed or forced; the goal is purity, not polish. Even the packaging reflects the same thoughtfulness — lighter bottles, natural corks from certified forests, and a carbon-neutral footprint that extends from vineyard to transport.
Aterra’s first vintages were born in the uncertain times of 2020, made more from passion than planning. The 2022 wines marked their first real release, finding their way onto restaurant tables around Bari — a small triumph that confirmed the value of their work. Despite setbacks like the 2023 downy mildew that swept through much of Italy, Andrea and Marta remain optimistic. For them, winemaking is not just a craft but a way of returning to something essential: to the soil, the wind, and the simple beauty of a vine that has weathered fifty years of seasons.
Aterra is a reminder that even in one of Italy’s oldest regions, new stories can begin — quietly, patiently, and with both feet firmly in the earth.
