Product Summary

Schola Sarmenti Viginti is the flagship expression of 100% Negroamaro, created to celebrate the winery's twentieth anniversary. Produced from approximately 60-year-old Alberello-trained vines, the grapes undergo 48 days of natural drying, concentrating flavour before spending 30 months in French barriques followed by extended bottle ageing. With fewer than 7,000 bottles produced, Viginti is one of the winery's most limited and ambitious wines, showcasing the remarkable ageing potential of Negroamaro.

🍷 Tasting Notes: Layers of blackcurrant, sweet black cherry, dried plum and raisin unfold into pipe tobacco, thyme, dark chocolate and sweet baking spice. The palate is dense yet remarkably vibrant, supported by velvety tannins, fresh acidity and exceptional concentration.

🍽️ Food Pairings: Dry-aged beef, grilled lamb, venison, slow-cooked beef cheeks, mature hard cheeses, wild mushroom dishes and rich game stews.

🌡️ Serve at: 18°C

🍇 Grape: 100% Negroamaro | Region: Salento, Puglia, Italy | Alcohol: 16.8%

Tasting Experience

Colour

Deep ruby with vibrant purple reflections, showing remarkable concentration and youthful intensity.

Aroma & Palate

The bouquet is immediately expressive with aromas of blackcurrant, sweet black cherries, dried plums and raisins, followed by layers of pipe tobacco, thyme, dark chocolate and sweet spice developed through extended drying and long barrel maturation. The palate is powerful yet beautifully composed, offering remarkable fruit purity, luxurious texture and exceptional depth while maintaining freshness throughout.

Body

Full-bodied with exceptional concentration, silky texture and velvety tannins. Despite its richness, vibrant acidity provides lift and balance.

Finish

Exceptionally long and persistent with dark fruit, cocoa, tobacco, Mediterranean herbs and finely integrated French oak lingering well beyond the final sip.

Why This Wine Matters

Viginti takes its name from the Latin word for twenty, commemorating Schola Sarmenti's twentieth anniversary. Rather than simply producing another premium Negroamaro, the winery selected fruit from mature bush vines, naturally dried the grapes for 48 days, and matured the wine for 30 months in French barriques before bottle ageing. This meticulous process produces a wine of extraordinary concentration while preserving freshness and elegance. With production limited to around 7,000 bottles, Viginti stands among the finest modern expressions of Negroamaro from Salento.

Food Pairings

International

• Dry-aged ribeye steak
• Roast venison
• Herb-crusted lamb
• Slow-cooked beef cheeks
• Aged Parmigiano Reggiano

Singapore & Regional

• Beef rendang
• Black pepper beef
• Roast duck
• Braised lamb shank
• Mushroom hor fun

Technical Details

Closing Line

Viginti is a benchmark Negroamaro that combines old-vine concentration, appassimento-inspired richness and remarkable freshness, demonstrating the world-class potential of Salento's most iconic native grape.