Artisan Wines of Puglia at Commonwealth Wine School
Masterclass Reveals Hidden Terroirs Across Puglia’s Diverse Sub-Zones
Beyond the Bulk—the Artisanal Side of Italy's Most Misunderstood Wine Region
CAMBRIDGE, MA – An in-depth masterclass exploring artisanal winemakers of Puglia will take place Tuesday, September 16th at Commonwealth Wine School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Wines of Puglia: Beyond Bulk Wine - Understanding Hidden Terroirs and Family Legacies, offers a rare glimpse into the small family farms and indigenous varieties that are reshaping the future of Apulian wine.
Dave Gansler, owner of La Rosa Selections, is the architect behind this showcase tasting featuring three artisan wineries that defy Puglia’s reputation as Southern Italy’s industrial hub of processed wines. Presenting alongside Gansler will be Stephanie Cuadra, co-founder of Lasorte Cuadra in Valle d'Itria and founder of Terrestoria Wine Imports, a niche marketer that specializes in sourcing Italian and Spanish wines for Utah’s state-controlled market.
“Puglia is one of Italy's most ancient and diverse viticultural landscapes, yet most consumers only know it through the lens of mass production," explains Cuadra. "This masterclass tells another truth—that of generational winemaking that exists parallel to, yet completely separate from, the industrial machine.”
The tasting will focus on wines from three different terroirs: Valle d'Itria, Salento, and Mottola—representing distinct microclimates, soils and technical approaches. Featured wines include Lasorte Cuadra's Silos, a generational field blend crafted from Valle d’Itria’s signature white grapes—Verdeca, Bianco d'Alessano, Minutolo, and Maresco—expressing centuries of indigenous viticultural history; Racimolo from Dei Agre Salento, pedigree Negroamaro from bush-trained alberello vines; and Cantina Pantun’s Skietto, monovarietal (oak-free) Primitivo that strikes an impressive balance between layered complexity and beautiful restraint. All wines are dry-farmed and produced using traditional, non-invasive methods that prioritize terroir expression over yields—reflecting holistic philosophies that channel ancestral wisdom while resonating with modern palates.
“Dave Gansler deserves recognition for having the courage to champion winemaking in its most genuine form," notes Cuadra. “His dedication to discovering and importing from small family farms provides American wine lovers with firsthand perspective on what’s happening in Puglia today.”
The Commonwealth Wine School masterclass presented by Dave Gansler and Stephanie Cuadra transcends outdated generalizations, taking Boston-area wine enthusiasts and trade professionals on an unprecedented journey into one of the least understood and most fascinating regions of Italian wine.
For more information: commonwealthwineschool.com.
