What is alberello?
Alberello is a training system in which each vine grows as a low, compact, free-standing plant rather than forming a continuous wall along wires. Much of the work happens vine by vine and requires considerable hand labour.
Alberello and trellising: what is the difference?
On a trellis, shoots are organised along a linear structure. With alberello, each plant retains its individual form. Neither system is inherently superior: the right choice depends on place, climate, grape variety and the grower’s work.
Why does alberello suit Puglia?
Its low, compact form helps shelter the fruit and allows the vine to live with sun, wind and dry conditions. It is not rustic decoration, but precise agricultural architecture developed to work in balance with the place.
Why do old vines matter?
“Old vine” is not, by itself, a guarantee of quality. Declared age, vine balance, soil condition, yield and vineyard care must be considered together. A balanced mature plant may carry a small crop with more even ripening, but the result always depends on work in the vineyard and decisions in the cellar.
A Terra’s old vines
A Terra works roughly one hectare of vineyards in Puglia. The historic core lies in Adelfia, near Bari, and comprises around 1,000 alberello-trained Primitivo vines aged approximately 40–60 years. Harvest is manual and the tiny scale allows us to observe and select vine by vine. The aim is not to make the most powerful Primitivo possible, but a ripe, dry and gastronomic Puglian wine with freshness and restraint.
The origin of Primitivo 2025
Adelfia is the historic core of the project. The fruit for Primitivo 2025 comes from Sannicandro di Bari and Orta Nova: references to the project’s old vines do not mean that every bottle comes exclusively from the Adelfia parcel.