Agricola Quarta Winery
Agricola Q is a visionary project born in 2020 from the chance and transformative meeting between Antonio Quarta and Mina del Prete. Antonio, known to everyone simply as “Q,” brings an eclectic background to the wine world: a former DAMS student in Bologna and a set photographer, he spent years capturing light through a lens before moving into the restaurant industry and, ultimately, returning to the land.
The definitive spark was ignited by his union with Mina, daughter of the “great” Natalino del Prete, a historical pillar and iconic figure of natural wine in Italy. Inspired by the artisanal integrity of the Del Prete family, Antonio decided to shift from collecting wine to producing it, bringing a breath of fresh, modern air to the heart of Puglia.
The estate is rooted in the pulsing heart of the Salice Salentino DOC, where Antonio tends to four hectares of vineyards dedicated exclusively to Negroamaro. Here, the absolute protagonist is the classic Puglian bush vine (alberello): plants ranging from 10 to 30 years old, cultivated with a density of 5,000 vines per hectare to ensure concentration and character.
Agricola Q consciously distances itself from the opulent, muscular style typical of the region’s traditional wines. Antonio and Mina’s goal is to redefine Negroamaro through a “pop” and unconventional lens:
Non-interventionist approach: Following in the footsteps of Natalino del Prete, the agricultural management is strictly respectful of the environmnt. In the cellar, only indigenous yeasts are used, and filtration is banned to preserve the vitality of the liquid.
The use of sulfur is kept to the absolute minimum, giving life to agile, lean wines with a captivating, effortless drinkability.
Agricola Q is a visionary project born in 2020 from the chance and transformative meeting between Antonio Quarta and Mina del Prete. Antonio, known to everyone simply as “Q,” brings an eclectic background to the wine world: a former DAMS student in Bologna and a set photographer, he spent years capturing light through a lens before moving into the restaurant industry and, ultimately, returning to the land.
The definitive spark was ignited by his union with Mina, daughter of the “great” Natalino del Prete, a historical pillar and iconic figure of natural wine in Italy. Inspired by the artisanal integrity of the Del Prete family, Antonio decided to shift from collecting wine to producing it, bringing a breath of fresh, modern air to the heart of Puglia.
The estate is rooted in the pulsing heart of the Salice Salentino DOC, where Antonio tends to four hectares of vineyards dedicated exclusively to Negroamaro. Here, the absolute protagonist is the classic Puglian bush vine (alberello): plants ranging from 10 to 30 years old, cultivated with a density of 5,000 vines per hectare to ensure concentration and character.
Agricola Q consciously distances itself from the opulent, muscular style typical of the region’s traditional wines. Antonio and Mina’s goal is to redefine Negroamaro through a “pop” and unconventional lens:
Non-interventionist approach: Following in the footsteps of Natalino del Prete, the agricultural management is strictly respectful of the environmnt. In the cellar, only indigenous yeasts are used, and filtration is banned to preserve the vitality of the liquid.
The use of sulfur is kept to the absolute minimum, giving life to agile, lean wines with a captivating, effortless drinkability.
