Azienda Agricola San Salvatore 1988 #109
The pearl of Cilento
Azienda Agricola San Salvatore 1988, the winery owned by Giuseppe Pagano, is a true flagship in Cilento when it comes to biodynamic wine. Even in some world-renowned wine regions, cultivation isn’t as innovative and well-thought-out as it is here. Fertilizer for the vineyards is produced by the estate’s own herd of buffalo, the winery is powered by its own solar panel system, and wine pioneer Riccardo Cotarella serves as a consultant to the estate.
The vineyards lie in three unique terroirs: Stio, Paestum and Giungano. The cultivated grape varieties include Greco, Fiano, Falanghina, and the red Aglianico. But wine isn’t Giuseppe Pagano’s only specialty; the range of products he produces also includes exceptional spreads, sauces, and olive oils. And for those who can’t visit in person, Giuseppe’s products can also be found in nearby towns, easily recognizable by the distinctive buffalo logo.
The amazing wines by Azienda Agricola San Salvatore 1988 have won dozens of medals and awards by reputable interns tasting competitions and renowned experts, including 93 points from Robert Parker for Corleto IGP Paestum Bio 2022, as well as Parker’s Green Emblem awarded to Giuseppe Pagano and his winery in 2023 (at that time, it was only awarded to 11 wineries all over the world). Quote from the review: “San Salvatore 1988 represents an inspiring model of sustainability that applies to people of all ages in the Cilento who seek a better and more prosperous future’’.
“Don Peppino”: the Perfectionist
Giuseppe “Don Peppino” Pagano, the winemaker, hotelier, and trailblazer, calls himself a Tuttologo – a perfectionist in everything, who does things thoroughly or not at all. This philosophy transformed a hotelier into a successful multi-entrepreneur. The wines from his estate have risen from obscurity to claim a spot among Italy’s finest. “My goal is to show the young people here that growth is not only about quantity but also about quality,” says Don Peppino. His perfectionist approach combined with inspiration has served him well: Giuseppe Pagano has managed to create from scratch an innovative and sustainable winery, three hotels — the beautiful boutique hotel Esplanade, the magnificent Savoy SPA Hotel, and the Beach Club 93, all three located in Paestum, Cilento, as well as a buffalo farm producing high-class organic products. Yet San Salvatore winery is Giuseppe Pagano’s biggest treasure and a source of inspiration. “In 2003, I was at Ruffino in Tuscany, and when I saw how winemaking was celebrated there, I was thrilled. And disappointed that it always had to be others who do beautiful things so well,” shared his memories Don Peppino. So it was him who established the most innovative winery in Cilento, formerly Italy’s not-so-famous wine region, setting its winemaking benchmark.
Sustainable Approach
San Salvatore Winery is located in the heart of the National Park of Cilento. The vineyards were set in the areas which had previously experienced no intensive cultivation. In San Salvatore they do not cultivate the land, but rather take care of it by supporting its vocations, its traditions and its history. Day by day they study the production processes adding them into the cycles of nature, with unique agro-environmental characteristics.
The viticulture and winemaking at San Salvatore are completely organic. They are following the Steinerian philosophy, seeking harmony with Nature. Respect for biodiversity is maintained, for example, with the practice of green manure, that is, sowing essences that act as natural fertiliser between the rows.
San Salvatore’s integrated cycle is both nature-based and highly efficient. The process begins with transforming buffalo manure into energy using a biodigester, followed by converting it into natural fertilizer. From sustainable vineyard management to eco-conscious winery practices, green packaging, and the use of renewable energy, the company is dedicated to minimizing its environmental impact. Their mission is to achieve an increasingly authentic expression of harmony with nature.
Philosophy
Running a large farm like Azienda Agricola San Salvatore 1988 is guided by a simple yet profound principle: respecting the land and its biodiversity without undue interference. The winemakers of San Salvatore cherish the knowledge passed down through generations of farmers — a collective agricultural memory that draws its strength from the interplay between people, the physical landscape, and the biological environment. Here, human intelligence harmonizes with the beauty of nature, allowing the territory’s essence to merge with its unique interpretation.
San Salvatore is deeply committed to organic farming and creating products rooted in conscious, sustainable management. Their vision of the future is an integrated cycle with minimal environmental impact and a significant social impact – a model designed to foster a more modern perspective of this region. The goal is to transform Cilento into a destination that people return to – a vibrant land brimming with potential, waiting for new energy to bring it to life.
This renewed vision of Cilento aims to inspire the region’s youth, giving them a reason to believe in their homeland once more and eagerly contribute to its future.
