In Erchie, in the Salento area of Puglia, Masca del Tacco brings a family’s winemaking ambition to a historic local cellar. Felice Mergè, guided by his father Armando’s experience, acquired and restored the former village cooperative in 2010; the building’s wine history reaches back to 1949. The project belongs to the same family world as Poggio Le Volpi, while maintaining a distinctly southern character. Primitivo, Negroamaro and Susumaniello are central to its reds, with Fiano providing a white counterpart.
The estate’s appeal is expressive Puglian fruit, from generous, accessible reds to more concentrated wines from old bush-trained vines. Piano Chiuso, its Primitivo di Manduria Riserva, comes from a walled vineyard of vines more than seventy years old, connecting the wine to a specific piece of landscape. Susumaniello offers an especially interesting discovery for drinkers keen to explore beyond Primitivo. With its restored cellar, family continuity and focus on regional varieties, Masca del Tacco offers an inviting combination of southern warmth, local heritage and contemporary winemaking ambition.
