Puglia (Apulia) is discovered within the southeast area of Italy, particularly, on the heel of Italy’s boot. This breathtaking area is understood for its whitewashed hillside cities, trulli houses, centuries previous structure and church buildings, tons of of kilometers of shoreline that kiss the Adriatic Sea, hundreds of thousands of olive timber, and tens of 1000’s of vineyards.
Puglia – Photograph Credit score: Lonely Planet
Primitivo in Puglia
This southeast area can also be recognized for its scrumptious wines, significantly Primitivo. Out of Italy’s 20 wine areas, Puglia is the second largest producer of purple wine.
Initially from Croatia, grapes named Tribidrag discovered their method to Puglia the place, within the 18th century, they had been renamed Primitivo, which suggests ‘first to open’ as a result of the grapes ripened sooner than others. Finally cuttings from the grapevines had been transported to California, the place they’re often called Zinfandel. As a result of California and Italy share kindred Mediterranean sort climates and soil composition, these wines style comparable. On account of convergent evolution, each Italy and California present chaparral, a shrub-land plant neighborhood of vegetation, which is influenced by their distinctive soil varieties. Primitivo, as soon as found it was the identical as Zinfandel, gained reputation as a single varietal; it was initially used to mix with different Italian wines. Meant to be consumed younger, this wine can age for as much as 8 years within the bottle.
It’s a dark-skinned grape selection that produces wealthy, inky wines. Full bodied with a excessive alcohol content material, reasonable tannins, and medium acidity, its taste profile options jammy blackberries, plums, and black cherries together with hints of darkish chocolate, licorice, and tobacco. Primitivo pairs properly with hearty dishes, lamb, purple meats, aged chilly cuts, sturdy cheeses, orecchiette (the area’s well-known pasta) and daring tomato sauces.
I Pastini Vineyards and Vineyard
Throughout my latest trip in Apulia, we visited I Pastini vineyards and vineyard. Based in 1996 by Gianni and his father, Donato Carparelli, I Pastini is is a family-owned bio-organic vineyard discovered within the coronary heart of Valle d’Itria close to the historic city of Alberobello. Our go to yielded a tour wealthy in historical past, combining historical and fashionable wine-making methods. Strolling via the native vineyards, one can visualize the ancestral farmers that tended these 18 hectares of centuries previous vineyards. I Pastini grows Primitivo and Susumaniello purple grapes; in addition to Verdeca, Bianca d’Alessano and Minutolo white grapes. The vines are protected by roses which might be planted on the foot of every vine row, apart from enhancing soil high quality, roses appeal to bees to assist in pollinating the grapes, in addition to a preventative measure to mitigate mould and illness and deter pests from the vines.
The vineyards have wonderful publicity to the solar as they had been planted north to south, surrounding them with uniform radiation, fixed air flow, and comfy temperatures mixed with rocky limestone soil permitting for the right progress of wholesome grapes. Through the 20 days of harvest in September, two dozen skilled farmers meticulously hand decide every grape. After ageing in French oak barrels, the I Pastini crew bottle roughly 1,200 bottles per hour. Sealed in chrome steel tanks, the charmat methodology is used to supply their glowing wines. Wines produced the charmat means are filtered and reveal a softer carbonation than the standard methodology.
Accommodating as much as 30 friends per tasting, their academic classroom model tasting room is a novel and nice expertise. We had been handled to a few of the house owners’ favorites: Valle d’Itria IGP Spumante Charmat – 100% Verdeca; Rampone Valle d’Itria IGP Bianco – 100% Minutolo and VersoSud Puglia IGP Rosso – 100% Susumaniello. Every of those distinctive and scrumptious wines had been paired with a particular Italian appetizer which included olives, bruschetta, dried fava beans and taralli, a tasty savory breadstick baked right into a circle.
Experiencing Extra Wines of Puglia
Throughout lunch and dinner, experiencing a brand new native Italian wine was a real spotlight of our 8-day culinary Apulian journey the place we savored a pair dozen choose wines paired with genuine Italian delicacies. Our meals included glasses of: Rivo di Liandro, Suro Salento, Notice di Luna, Coppi Negroamaro, Viaventi Prosecco, Sanpancrazio Rosalbore, Salice Salentino, Rosso Basilicata, Terrie di Sole Bianca, Serre Susumaniello, Primitivo di Manduria, Fiano Puglia, Negroamaro Puglia, Angio Fiano Salento, and Sanpancrazio Serrapetralba.
Different grape varietals native to Puglia embody: Bovalegrande, Bombino, Montepulciano, Negro Amaro, UVA di Troia, Verdeca, Barbera, Grillo and Sangiovese.
I extremely advocate making Puglia your subsequent vacation spot trip. Within the meantime, go to an area wine store and uncover the scrumptious flavors of southern Italy!
Visitor author Donna Cruciani proudly holds her WSET (Wine & Spirits Instructional Belief) Degree 2 certificates. She delights in journey for enriching experiences and savors a various array of wines from throughout the globe. Observe Donna’s adventures on Instagram HERE.
Cheers! ~ Cindy
