MMD adds Puglian estate

Maisons Marques et Domaines (MMD) has added Puglian estate, Masseria Surani, to its portfolio and will act as its sole distributor in the UK market.

Belonging to the Tommasi family, the southern Italian estate comprises 80 hectares in Manduria and is largely devoted to growing Primitivo.

Manduria is widely considered one of the finest growing areas for Primitivo and the area has a viticultural heritage dating back to 700BC when the area was colonized by the ancient Greeks.

The winery was acquired by the Tommasi family in 2013, and they have invested heavily in the winery’s infrastructure – in particular its ageing and cellaring capacity.

Pierangelo Tommasi explained: “With Masseria Surani we started an important and challenging adventure. We are working hard on this project as we strongly believe in the potential of the Apulia and the Manduria areas in particular to produce excellent fruit.”

MMD’s managing director, Richard Billett, commented: “The Tommasi family is a celebrated name in Italian wine with a four-generation history and a strong vision for the future. We are delighted to be extending our association with the family and strengthening our proposition further with the addition of Masseria Surani.”

In a nod to the regions Hellenic past, the wines from the estate are named after ancient Greek gods and heroes – such as Artemis, Heracles, Ares and Dionysos.