Not only is Puglia an excellent wine-growing region within Italy, but it is also home to our head chef Roberta. We talked with her about her favourite wines coming from the region.
The rich and fertile soil coupled with the hot climate and cool sea breeze make Puglia a great wine-growing region. In total, Puglia has 29 certified DOC wines and four DOCG protected wine regions. Most of these wines come from the Salento region of Puglia.
Pugliese Reds and Rosés
Red wines are the mainstay of Pugliese wines. They tend to be fruit-forward, full-bodied wines.
Negroamaro is a common red wine grape grown in Puglia. The name translates to “black bitter” in Italian. These grapes are quite dark in colour and have a bitter taste. As the grape variety has relatively thick skins and is drought-resistant, it is ideal for Puglia’s climate. Negroamaro is often made into Pugliese rosés.
Primitivo, meaning “early ripening” in old Italian, is a grape that is typically harvested early in August as its name suggests. This grape has a naturally high sugar content which leads to a high alcohol content in its wines. The grape is more delicate than the Negroamaro grape, making it more sensitive to droughts, heat, and cold temperatures. Wines made with Primitivo tend to have moderate tannins and low acidity.
Nero di Troia is a dark coloured grape that is found in the northern region of Puglia, specifically Foggia and Bari. It is harvested late in the season. As it is a fairly astringent grape, it is commonly found in red blends.
Pugliese Whites
Despite red wines being the majority of wines coming from Puglia, there are notable whine wines. The climate of Puglia leads to crisp dry white wines.
Verdeca is a white grape that almost exclusively exists in Puglia. This is a neutral grape that is commonly found in blends. It is marked by citrus and pineapple notes.
Bombino Bianco is a hardy grape varietal. It is commonly found in sparkling wines but is also found in still wines. The wine is yellow-green in colour with soft citrus and floral notes with mild minerality.
Greco Bianco has a long history with its origins in Greece. It is a late harvest grape that is generally used in blends with other Pugliese varietals. This varietal is marked by high acidity and peach and grassy notes.
Roberta’s Wine Recommendations:
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Calafuria Rosato Salento IGT 2019 - Tormaresca
Roberta loves to pair this rosé wine with seafood pasta. It is extremely refreshing, especially in the hot Pugliese summers. It is a dry wine with floral aromas and citrus and light berry notes.
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Salice Salentino Riserva 2015 - L'Antesi
Roberta recommends pairing this wine with orecchiette alle cime di rapa, a traditional Pugliese pasta dish that also happens to be one of Roberta’s favourites. This bold red wine had mild tannins and is slightly off-dry with mild acidity. It is characterised by notes of blackberry, cherry, and vanilla.
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Masseria Maime Salento IGT 2015 - Tormaresca
This Pugliese off-dry red wine is full-bodied with medium to moderate tannins and mild but bright acidity. It pairs well with red meat dishes. It has a warm spicy character with floral aromas.
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