Primitivo wine is the most famous Puglian wine. It is produced in vast areas of the region and has gained a solid international reputation. The main Primitivo wine areas are located in the Bari and Taranto areas. The first one is the so called Gioia del Colle DOC and the second one is the Manduria DOC and DOCG. The “Primitivo di Gioia del Colle” grows in a hilly region in the inland of the region, in a calcareous area called “Murgia” (from the latin “Murex”: sharp stone).

The wine area enjoys large temperature differences between night and day, which positively affects the aromas in the skin of the grape and let us produce a more elegant and longer lasting wine that is very rich in minerals. Whereas the second one, “Primitivo di Manduria” grows in the Manduria flatlands along the Ionian coastside in a red soil made out of limestone and clay. Because of different climate and soil conditions, it produces a different wine: juicier, smoother, sweeter and jammier.

Origins

The word “primitivo” has nothing to do with the word “primitive” but has to be understood as "primo," which means “first.” Its name “primitivo” relates to the ripening period, which is very early compared to other red varieties. The early ripening usually happens in late August. Primitivo grape is “the first to ripen” also because it accumulates a lot of sugar during the ripening process and it is not a weak wine at all.

The real origins of the wine are to be found in close-by Croatia. Apparently, the wine variety was brought from Croatia to Puglia probably in 19th century. It was first brought to Gioia del Colle area and later on to Manduria area. Because of the perfect climate and soil conditions of these areas, the wine could easily and rapidly adapt and very quickly offered fantastic results.

Thanks to a deep research and genetic analysis, researchers could prove a direct connection between Primitivo from Puglia, Crljenak Kastelanski from Croatia, and Zinfandel from California. We are speaking about the very same grape vine that in different areas of the world gives different results. In the arc of history, this vine has been first brought from Croatia to Puglia (even if we don’t know exactly when) and, with the southern Italian migration to the States, Primitivo wine was brought to California where it is nowadays known as Zinfandel.

Wine description

This dark-skinned grape ripens very early and it is still partly cultivated with the traditional “alberello pugliese” (bush vines) system, which means that the vineyards are maintained in the shape of small trees very close to the soil in order to take advantage of the humidity of the soil, and survive hot and dry summers. Because of the fast process of ripening at the end of August, winemakers have to be very careful in the harvest times. A small delay could mean an important loss of acidity and freshness.

Primitivo is a full-bodied, very persistent wine with a remarkable minerality. Due to high sugar concentration, the wine has a pretty strong alcohol content as well. You can find 14% alcohol Primitivo wines, which are to be paired with appetizers such as cold cuts, cheese, or meat or also with typical dishes such as Orecchiette with meatballs or “braciole” (meat rolls in tomato sauce). Sometimes Primitivo wines can reach 16-17% or even 18% alcohol content. There are in fact also sweet Primitivo wines that are to be paired with desserts and aged cheeses, such as "canestrato pugliese" or "caciocavallo."

The wine is very aromatic and has flavours of cherry, blueberries, blackberries, dried fruits, pepper, tobacco, liquorice, plums, leather and hints of Mediterranean herbs. Usually, many producers tend to age the Primitivo in oak barrels but the current trend of some new very great wineries is to let it age in iron steel tanks in order to taste the real expression of the soil without any artificial “contamination” through the contact with the oak wood.

This variety is mostly cultivated in the southern part of the region, the area known as the Salento peninsula, the land between the two seas, the Adriatic and the Ionian. It includes areas of Lecce, Brindisi and Taranto.

Origins

Negroamaro consists of two words “negro” and “amaro.” Negro means black and comes from Latin and Maro comes from “mavros” that in Greek also means black. Both terms refer to the black colour of the wine. Apparently the wine has been brought by ancient Greeks to Puglia during the colonial times of Megale Hellas, “Magna Grecia” (8th-3th century BC). Puglia was indeed strongly influenced by Greece in the pre-Roman age, especially Taranto, one of the biggest Greek towns founded by Spartan colonists in 707 BC.

Wine description

Just like the Primitivo, Negroamaro is partly still cultivated following the typical traditional “alberello” system and partly through new modern systems (cordon training). This grape is mostly to be found in the flatlands of Salento, especially in areas between Brindisi and Lecce. Wine areas are usually a mix of limestone and clay. It can easily resist drought and warmth, and it is harvested between September and October. Nowadays, a lot of Puglian companies produce Negroamaro 100% without blending it. There is a very famous blending wine that is known as “Salice Salentino.” It usually consists of 85% Negroamaro and 15% Malvasia Nera. Some companies have dared to blend Negroamaro with Primitivo with great results.

Compared to Primitivo, Negroamaro is a fresher wine with a good acidity and tastes like wild raspberries, cherries, typical Mediterranean herbs, plums, and red fruits. The ruby-red (when young) or garnet-red (when aged) wine has a winey scent and a good balance between acidity and amount of tannins. You can serve and consume it as a young fresh wine for appetizers or light food or let it age and pair it with meat or aged cheese for example. With the aging process (especially in wood oaks), the wine gains further aromas such as tobacco, sour cherry, and black pepper (it’s the case of Negroamaro Riserva or Salice Salentino Riserva).

Puglia is very popular for the rosé wine production as well. Some of the best rosé wines of Puglia are made out of Negroamaro grape wine, mostly produced between Lecce, Brindisi, and Taranto. The new trend in Puglia is to produce sparkling rosé wines made out of Negroamaro - charmat and classical method. Some companies are even producing white sparkling wines out of red Negroamaro wine grape - separating the skin from the juice right after the harvest and before the fermentation process.