Puglia is a long, thin wine region in the far south-eastern corner of the 'boot' of Italy. Puglia has a formidable array of natural tools to help encourage prolific vine growth: the hot Mediterranean climate, persistent sunshine and occasional sea breezes
Puglia is a long, thin wine region in the far south-eastern corner of the 'boot' of Italy. Puglia has a formidable array of natural tools to help encourage prolific vine growth: the hot Mediterranean climate, persistent sunshine and occasional sea breezes make for a near-perfect environment for viticulture. The region’s geology shows a bias towards cretaceous limestone under layers of iron-rich quaternary deposits, most visible in the soils around the Colline Joniche Tarantine hills and near Martina Franca and Locorotondo in the Itria Valley.
DOC and DOCG
Apulia counts 25 DOC wines including Aleatico di Puglia, Primitivo di Manduria and Salice Salentino among others. The wine production consists of 30% white, 70% red.
Grape Varieties
The 2 main red grapes are Negroamaro and Primitivo (California’s Zinfandel), while Verdeca is the only indigenous variety exclusive to the region. Primitivo is at home in Manduria and Gioia del Colle areas, and creates robust, powerful wines. Negroamaro is more widespread and defines the red wines of the majority of southern Puglia's DOCs. In the middle of Puglia is a cluster of DOCs around Barletta, Cerignola, and Castel del Monte, where Uva di Troia reigns supreme. This low-yielding red variety is now being recognized for its potential to make quality wines.
