A new project that strengthens the partnership between our San Giorgio cellar in Puglia and Jonian Dolphin Conservation even more: we have created a new line of wines dedicated to the cetaceans sighted in the Gulf of Taranto.
The three cetaceans followed and studied by the Jonian Dolphin Conservation which we have adopted are called Pontos, Idros and Toosa and we have dedicated three wines to them: Primitivo, Chardonnay and Primitivo Rosato.
The collaboration with the association has been going on for four years and sees us as sponsors and exclusive wine partners.
With this new project, we decided to do more by donating to Jonian Dolphin Conservation a royalty of €1 for each bottle sold from the line.
These donations will be used to finance important research projects and projects to safeguard the sea and its species.
We paired Pontos, the Risso’s dolphin recognisable by its scars, with our Primitivo Salento Igp, Idros, the sperm whale with a big tail with Chardonnay Puglia Igp and Toosa, the better known dolphin, with Primitivo Rosato Salento Igp.
These are actual existing cetaceans, sighted and tracked during the association’s catamaran excursions.
For the labels, we have created a different stylised drawing for each species based on its distinctive mark, imagining the marine animals as they swim freely in the turquoise-blue sea.
In addition, the wines will accompany the daily catamaran excursions as part of “Researcher for a day”: the unique thrill of savouring the wine can be enjoyed while spotting one of the cetaceans we have adopted.
What is the Jonian Dolphin Conservation
The Jonian Dolphin Conservation, founded by Carmelo Fanizza in 2009, is a scientific research association aimed at studying cetaceans in the Gulf of Taranto and the northern Ionian Sea.
Boasting a deep knowledge of the marine environment and its most diverse aspects, the staff members make their experience and skills available to research in its deepest meaning. The team is made up of biologists, veterinarians, environmental guides, expert seamen and young seafarers.
Here are the three cetaceans we have adopted:
PONTOS

Pontos is a Risso’s dolphin named after the sea-god from the Greek mythology. Risso’s dolphins are recognisable due to their large size, bulbous head and widespread white scarring which has covered their bodies over the years.
Pontos is a very independent and curious young specimen. He does not have many scars on his dorsal fin yet but he does have a large scar on his back, making him easily recognisable: it was probably due to an encounter with a large animal such as a shark.
TOOSA

Toosa is a Bottlenose dolphin, the better-known species. Its name derives from a figure from the Greek mythology, a sea nymph and mother of the Cyclops Polyphemus.
Bottlenose dolphins are recognisable thanks to their classic grey colour, their size of approximately 3.5 m and short and stumpy snouts. Their dorsal fins are the distinctive characteristic that enables the identification of the single dolphins.
Toosa is the dolphin that has been sighted the most within our research area, as she has been spotted 32 times since 2017. She has had two calves since we have known her and we are now watching them grow.
IDROS

Idros is a sperm whale, named after the Greek god of the primordial waters.
Sperm whales are the largest predators on the Planet and among the largest cetaceans inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea. Their large tails emerge before a long deep dive and are characterised by unique marks.
We caught sight of Idros for the first time in the Gulf of Taranto in 2020 together with 5 other adults and one calf. We are still waiting to have a sighting of Idros again but sperm whales always travel long distances.
Discover more on cetaceans and adopt one too.
Book a “Researcher for a day” excursion.