FINE APULIAN WINES

5 Unique and Exclusive Reds and 5 Whites

If you love wine and want to discover extraordinary bottles, Puglia is a region that deserves the attention of wine lovers and the curious.

With a winemaking history that dates back to Roman times and a Mediterranean climate that is simply ideal for growing vines, Puglia is renowned for the production of mainly red and rosé wines but there is no shortage of quality whites that will leave you speechless.

In this article, we guide you to discover the finest Apulian wines, to help you make the perfect choice.

What are we talking about:

  • Production areas of the finest wines
  • The most common vines
  • Native vines
  • Non-native and international vines
  • DOCG, DOC and IGT recommended by our sommeliers
  • The numbers of Puglia wine
  • 5 fine and exclusive Apulian red wines
  • 5 fine and exclusive white wines, sparkling wines and rosés from Puglia
  • FAQ

The production areas of the finest Apulian wines

Puglia is divided into different wine-growing areas, each with its specific characteristics. The main ones are three and include Daunia, Murgia and the Salento Peninsula:

91.750

Hectares of vineyards

13.000

Organic hectares

10.8 million Hl

Produced in 2022

The most common vines

Puglia is known for a wide variety of native and non-native grape varieties that give rise to high-quality wines.

Here are the most common grapes in Puglia.

Typical native vines

The typical white grape varieties of Puglia are the following:

🥂 Bianco d'Alessano; Bombino Bianco (Bonvino); Francavidda (Francavilla); Minutolo; Verdeca or Pampanuto.

The black berry ones instead:

🍷 Black Bombino; Malvasia Nera di Lecce; Malvasia Nera di Brindisi; Negroamaro; Black (Grape) of Troy; Notardomenic; Ottavianello; Primitivo di Manduria; Susumaniello.

International vines

Non-native and international grapes are also grown in Puglia.
The main ones are: Sangiovese, Montepuciano, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Trebbiano Toscano, Malvasia and Riesling.

Fatti fare selezioni di vini su misura

Which Apulian wines to buy? DOCG, DOC and IGT recommended by our sommeliers

One thing to know about Apulian wines is that today some DOCs of Puglia are little recognized (among these: Alezio, Matino and Nardò), for various reasons including the relocation of vineyards and farms. For this reason many Apulian wines, even high quality ones, are IGT. We must therefore not be fooled by the classic scheme.

Puglia offers a wide range of extraordinary wines, each with its distinctive characteristics.

The production of quality wines in Puglia has in fact experienced considerable development since the 90s of the last century. Before this, Puglia was well known for the production of blended wines, especially in Northern Italy.

However, since the 1990s, there have been significant changes in the approach of Apulian producers to viticulture and oenology and today there are absolute gems to be found.

Here are some indications to orient yourself among the denominations and wines to try suggested by our sommeliers:

Castel del Monte Nero di Troia Riserva DOCG: A full-bodied and structured red wine, made mainly with the Nero di Troia grape variety (min. 90%). It must age at least 2 years, one of which in wood, before being put on the market. Perfect for special occasions.

Primitivo di Manduria DOC: An intense red made mainly with the Primitivo grape (min. 85%). It has notes of ripe black fruit and spices. With the mention Riserva it must be aged for at least 2 years before being marketed.

Salento DOC:
Controlled designation of origin which includes whites, reds and rosés produced in the provinces of Brindisi, Lecce and Taranto with a vast number of grapes. The grape variety is indicated when at least 85% of it is present. The rosés are very famous: must try!

Salice Salentino DOC: This denomination offers a variety of wines, including whites, reds and rosés. For example, Salice Salentino Rosso must be made mainly with Negroamaro (minimum 75%). Salice Salentino Rosato is a fresh and very pleasant option.

IGT Puglia: This typical geographical indication offers a certain flexibility in production and reserves great surprises for the quality that small Apulian producers especially pursue. You can find white, red and rosé wines under this category, often made with a variety of native and non-native vines of the highest quality: especially in Puglia, IGTs must be kept an eye on.

IGT Salento: Again under the typical geographical indication, this time of Salento, special labels can be found. Among these the Primitivo IGT Salento which offers the typicality of the vine of one of the most important grapes of Puglia in a carefree key.

Valle d'Itria IGT: The IGT Valle d'Itria is a denomination that embraces the Valle d'Itria region and is able to reflect with. For white wines, this IGT offers a wide range of sensory experiences. The whites of IGT Valle d'Itria are often characterized by a fresh and fruity flavor profile, with hints of white fruit and citrus fruits, supported by a pleasant acidity.

Cacc'e Mmitte di Lucera DOC: obtained from 35 to 60% Uva di Troia; Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Malvasia nera di Brindisi between 25 and 35%; Tuscan Trebbiano, white Bombino and Malvasia Bianca and/or Bianca Lunga between 15 and 30%. A dry, full-bodied and structured red, with a balanced level of acidity and tannins.

4

DOCG

15

DOC

6

IGT

The numbers of Apulian wine

Puglia is the second region in Italy for production (after Veneto). It represents a very important slice of Italian wine, both for IGT (16% of the total) and for common wine (43% of the total).

In Puglia there are approximately 91,740 hectares of vineyards (ISTAT 2022 data).

The region has 4 DOCG, 15 DOC and 6 IGT .

The annual production in 2022 was 10.8 million hectoliters of wine (+13% on 2021, ISTAT 2022 data). This is a record 40% higher than the historical average for the years 2012-2021. The increase is mainly due to the increased production of IGT and DOC , while the production of common wine decreased by 3% compared to 2021.

The grapes produced in 2022 were 16.4 million quintals. The average grape yield in 2022 was 179 quintals per hectare. The province with the highest yield was Foggia; the province with the lowest yield is Lecce (ISTAT 2022 data).

Puglia is the second most organic region in Italy with over 320,000 hectares where organic farming is practiced. The organic vineyards in particular occupy approximately 19 thousand hectares .

5 fine and exclusive Apulian red wines

Primitivo di Manduria DOC

Grapes:

Primitive 100%.

Refinement:

Produced in the Manduria countryside from 20-year-old vines trained on the Apulian sapling. Grapes harvested by hand, macerated for 7-8 days. Racking off, completion of alcoholic fermentation and refinement in cement wine vessels following the traditional production process typical of "palmenti". Evolution for 4 months in the bottle.

Cloves | Ancient Palmento
Bottle price: €25

Cacc'e Mmitte di Lucera DOC

Grapes:

Troia grapes, Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Bombino Bianco.

Refinement:

Local grapes that grow on limestone soils, 300 meters above sea level. The (organic) grapes are softly pressed, and the must ferments in steel tanks for seven days. Aged for six months in steel.

Motta del Lupo Cacc'e Mmitte | Lucera Petrilli
Bottle price: €9.50

Negroamaro IGT

Grapes:

Negroamaro 90%, Malvasia nera 10%.

Refinement:

Manual harvest in boxes. Spontaneous fermentation without the help of selected yeasts for 15 days. Very low intake of sulphites. Matured for 12 months in steel and then still in the bottle.

Negroamaro | Domitian
Indicative bottle price: €18

Salento PGI

Grapes:

Primitive 100%.

Refinement:

Obtained from 25-year-old vineyards grown on medium-textured soils tending towards sandy. Manual harvesting, soft pressing, the must then macerates on the skins for 6 days in stainless steel with temperature control; once fermentation is completed, it ages for 4 months in oak barriques and another 4 in the bottle.

Primitivo del Salento | Petrelli
Bottle price: €13.50

Primitivo di Manduria DOC

Grapes:

Primitive 100%.

Refinement:

Manual harvest, pressing, fermentation in contact with the skins at a controlled temperature. Aging in French barriques for 10 months.

Drops | Salento fiefdoms
Bottle price: €28

5 Fine and exclusive Apulian sparkling wines and rosés

Salento Primitivo PGI

Grapes:

primitive 100%.

Refinement:

Grapes harvested by hand, destemming of the bunches with partial breaking of the berries. Stopping of the crushed grapes for 12 hours in steel containers; recovery of the first flower by static draining and start of alcoholic fermentation with selected yeasts. Fermentation for 20 days at controlled temperature. Racking and maturation of the new wine on thin lees, with bâtonnage, for approximately 4 months. Bottle refinement.

Southern Roses | Ancient Palmento
Bottle price: €19

Puglia PGI

Grapes:

Bombino 100%.

Refinement:

Pure white Bombino produced organically, located approximately 80 meters above sea level. After manual harvesting and soft crushing and destemming, the wine undergoes 15 days of maceration in used barriques before alcoholic fermentation. Aging in barrique for 8 months.

Bombino Macerato Organic | Demaio estate
Bottle price: €14.50

Classic Method Brut

Grapes:

Bombino bianco and pinot noir.

Refinement:

Vinification with Classic Method. After vinification, each bottle rests for a minimum of 24 months protected from light, air currents and impacts, at 13° C, in the basement of the ancient cellar, and about two months before marketing it is disgorged à la glace, manually.

Classic Method Brut | D'Arapri
Bottle price: €24.5

Valle d'Itria IGT

Grapes:

Verdeca 100%.

Refinement:

A part of the grapes is harvested a few days in advance to obtain the "pied de couve", so as to guarantee the rest of the mass fermentation with native yeasts, the remaining part is softly pressed; the must ferments in steel. A third of the mass is vinified with maceration of the skins. On fine lees for one year and 6 months in the bottle.

Chakra Essence | Giovanni Aiello
Indicative bottle price: €18

Negroamaro Salento IGT

Grapes:

100% negroamaro.

Refinement:

Soft pressing, white vinification with racking after a few hours of maceration on the skins which gives a delicate pink hue to the wine. Controlled temperature fermentation, aging in steel for 4 months, 4 months in the bottle.

Negroamaro Cavarletta | Petrelli
Bottle price: €9.50

Compose your box of Apulian wines with the advice of our Sommeliers

Do you also want to discover the best bottles of Puglia?

Get advice from our sommeliers and start discovering the wine treasures of the region today thanks to territorial selections designed based on your needs and tastes.

Our sommeliers will create selections of Apulian wines for you that will allow you to savor the best of the region's wines, based on your budget and your needs. The box will be an authentic sensorial adventure, in which to explore the aromas, flavors and history of an entire territory behind every sip.

Whether you are an expert in the sector or a wine enthusiast looking for new experiences or even if you don't know Apulian wines at all, Sommelier Wine Box will offer you a tailor-made selection, adapted to your desires and you will be able to build your own collection of fine labels.

In addition to the quality and authenticity of niche wines, we offer a flexible service and deliver conveniently to your home.

Choose Sommelier Wine Box and enjoy a unique journey into the heart of the winemaking tradition of one of the wine territories of Puglia.

FAQ on Apulian Fine Wines

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