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Vineyards and varieties
Centuries-old olive trees are an important aspect of our wine estates--even considering just their visual role in the landscape; but those estates also cultivate, of course, the classic grape varieties that form the history of Salentine viticulture, whether trained to the traditional head-trained gobelet style, or to vertical trellising, or to the spurred cordon method: the negroamaro occupies pride of place, utilised for both red wines and rosés, then the malvasia nera, the malvasia bianca, and the montepulciano as well, grown here for many decades.
But Agricole Vallone is open towards innovation as well, and has introduced non-native varieties too, such as sauvignon blanc, which is used to produce Salento bianco Corte Valesio and the semi-dried-grape Passo de le Viscarde.
All of the vineyards are planted at an average density of 4,500 vines per hectare, and they contain both newly-planted blocks as well as sections over 50 years old, especially of head-trained vines; this mixture ensures a balanced production and one of high quality.
The microclimate
The Salento lies wholly within the Mediterranean macroclimate, and thus its vineyards and olive groves benefit from a classic Mediterranean seasonal climate, marked by light rainfall (700 millimetres maximum) in autumn and winter, and by dry but well-ventilated summers. The prevailing winds, the scirocco and the tramontana, ensure healthy conditions for the fruit, by keeping at bay mould and other problems. Good diurnal thermal ranges between night and day encourage optimal ripening and an aromatic richness in the wines.
Soils
The vineyards are planted on well-drained calcareous-clayey soils, with low nutrient content. The surface profile is largely flat since the vineyards, in most cases, are below an altitude of 100 metres above sea level.
The three winery estates:


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