About this wine
Vineyard and terroir
Salento, in southern Puglia, has a hot, dry and arid climate. The fruit comes from vines more than 20 years old. Li Veli uses the high-density settonce planting method, which maximises sunlight exposure and promotes air circulation. This supports even ripening and reduces the vines’ susceptibility to disease. The variety’s terroir and vineyard exposure were selected to suit its needs.
Vinification
The grapes are harvested by hand in late September, sorted on a conveyor, destemmed and pressed. Fermentation takes place in French oak vats at a controlled temperature of 22–28 °C to retain the fruit character. The wine is then transferred to French oak barriques and casks for malolactic fermentation.
Ageing
The wine matures for nine months in French oak barriques and casks, followed by three months in bottle.
Label / history
Askos is Li Veli’s project devoted to ancient native Puglian grape varieties at risk of disappearing. The name comes from the Greek word askos, meaning “decanter”, and represents the winemaking introduced to the region by the ancient Greeks; fragments of wine vessels found throughout Puglia provide evidence of this history. The settonce planting pattern is illustrated by an ancient hexagonal coin with a central hole. The Askos range also includes wines made from Negroamaro, Verdeca, Primitivo and Aleatico.
