The origins of the Agus Estate
DanielaMy name is Daniela Agus and together with my sister Agata, with the help of my husband Daniele, we run Tenuta Agus, a family-run wine business."
AgateOur vineyard belongs to all three of us sisters, and was inherited from our parents. I remember always harvesting, there was not a year of my life when I did not participate in the grape harvest."
DanielaI have the same memory. We grew up among the vineyards and in our grandparents' cellars, both on our mother's and father's side. From a very young age we breathed the world of wine."
AgateThere used to be big warehouses with wooden barrels, wine was made and sold to families. In our house, wine was never missing: we always saw it on the table."
DanielaWine was first produced by our grandparents, then also by our father. It was a tradition that was part of our everyday life."
The birth of the wine project
Agate: "The Binuforti project started in 2014 with the first vintage. The wine was released in 2015, so it is now ten years in the making."
Daniela"At the beginning we produced very few bottles, about 400-500, just to try."
AgateEverything started after the death of our father in 2002. Since then, Daniela's husband Daniele has taken care of the vineyards. Just delivering the grapes to the cellar didn't repay us for the work, so we said, "Why not make the wine ourselves?" That's where it all started."
DanielaToday we bottle at the Sardus Pater winery in Sant'Antioco, where we have our own steel tank from which the wine we bring to the table is made."
Wine tourism: the Tramonti Divini project
AgateIn 2019, the Tramonti Divini project was born. At the beginning we collaborated with the Calabrò Bakery, then during the 2020 lockdown we attended several courses, also thanks to CCN Welcome Sant'Antioco.
Since the summer of that year, we have started to offer aperitifs and vineyard excursions, so that people can experience wine outdoors, in direct contact with nature."
Our labels
DanielaWe started with Binuforti, our red Carignano. Then from the 2022 vintage we also introduced the Kamineras rosé, released in 2023'.
AgateThe choice of rosé came from a desire to diversify production. In Sant'Antioco, many produce red Carignano, rightly so, but we wanted to offer something different, and it is doing very well."
Work in the vineyard and future projects
DanielaOur working method follows tradition: we plough with oxen, because the tree rows are very narrow.
AgateOn the climate front, we are lucky, because Carignano del Sulcis is a hardy vine that is used to dry conditions.
DanielaIn recent years, however, the grape harvest has been brought forward: whereas we used to harvest at the end of September, now we have to start as early as the beginning of September. Then there are the risks of sudden rains, new vine diseases and pests that threaten production."
DanielaFor the future, we have applied for certification as a historical vine: if we obtain recognition, we will be the first on the island of Sant'Antioco. It is a long and complex process, but important for the enhancement of our territory. "lose all its quality."
Positive and negative aspects of our work
AgateClimate change, as we have already said, is definitely one of the negative aspects of working in the vineyard."
DanielaThe positive aspects, on the other hand, are many: the passion, the togetherness and the comparison with those who come to visit us, especially foreign tourists. It's great to be able to make ourselves understood and to transmit our tradition even to those who come from far away."
Childhood memories
AgateAs children, we used to pick 'su pibioni', the fallen grapes. It was a thankless task, but at the same time a beautiful one; we would all eat together under the fig tree, sing, laugh. They were tiring but joyful moments, which we miss a little today."
DanielaYes, I remember well that we all sang together. It was an experience that united the family."
