Villa Agreste was founded as an olive-growing company with the aim of continuing the tradition of the Iaia family, which has been dedicated to olive growing for generations. It is located in Ostuni, the “white city”, in the Apulian plain of monumental olive trees, a strategic position at the crossroads between Alto Salento, the Adriatic Sea and the Itria Valley. This fortunate location made it easy to think of a rural hospitality project in which every agricultural gesture is reinterpreted, focusing precisely on the natural aspect and environmental sustainability.
In the mid-90s of the last century, the old oil storage facilities above the impressive medieval underground oil mill located in the middle of the company premises, were converted into four accommodations of different sizes, which can independently welcome two to five guests each. Another accommodation was created in the middle of the estate, starting from a semi-hypogeum: today this house is surrounded by small vineyards, as a wine project was initiated in 2012.
In 2012, Enzo Iaia, the owner of the company, an accountant who devoted himself entirely to rural life and abandoned the financial, budgetary, and administrative activities of the company, decided to launch a project of viticultural archeology and recovery of lost biodiversity, focusing on the rediscovery and enhancement of the ancient identifiable grape varieties of the Ostuni area. These varieties had almost been forgotten in the last 50 years, although two controlled designations of origin (DOC – denominazione di origine controllata) got recognized in 1972: Ottavianello Ostuni DOC for the red wines and Bianco Ostuni DOC for the white wines. The origins of these excellent wines are Ottavianello and Impigno, which are finally experiencing a new lease of life after decades of oblivion.
Today, tours of the winery estate are organized, and they include walks in the vineyards, a visit to the medieval hypogeum to learn about the millennial history of local peasant civilization and, finally, tastings of wines and oils paired with local products, both in the dedicated wine club room and in one of the many open-air spaces in the villa.
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This is the most impressive and original accommodation in Villa Agreste: restored six years after the start of tourist activity, it consists of a double bedroom with a bathroom completely carved into the rock, a living area with a sofa bed and an equipped kitchen with a fireplace. Outside there is a patio with a magnificent view over the rows of vines. It is ideal for guests looking for direct contact with nature and relaxing solitude.
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