Primitivo

Primitivo is a blue grape variety grown mainly in Puglia, in the southeast of Italy. Various wines are made from it: from red and rosé to sweet wine from dried grapes. The name of the grape is often on the label, together with the designation of origin.

The best-known origin is Primitivo di Manduria. According to the consortium, that appellation covers 18 municipalities between Taranto and Brindisi, with Manduria at its centre. In addition, a lot of primitivo comes from the wider Salento IGT, and from other parts of Puglia.

A Primitivo di Manduria DOC consists of at least 85 percent primitivo. The remaining 15 percent may come from other blue grapes permitted in the region. The grapes come from 18 designated municipalities in the provinces of Taranto and Brindisi, and the yield is limited to 9 tonnes per hectare.

The wine has at least 13.5 percent alcohol and may only be sold after 31 March following the harvest. A Riserva has at least 14 percent alcohol and matures for 24 months, of which at least 9 months in wood. Both versions have at most 18 grams of residual sugar per litre.

Primitivo di Manduria Dolce Naturale is the sweet version, with the higher DOCG status. The wine is made from 100 percent primitivo from the same area. The yield is lower than for the DOC: a maximum of 7 tonnes of grapes per hectare.

The grapes may be dried hung from poles or on racks, in crates or in rooms with controlled temperature and humidity. The wine has a total alcohol content of at least 16 percent, of which at least 13 percent actual alcohol, and at least 50 grams of residual sugar per litre. It may only be sold from 1 June of the year after the harvest.

Yes. Primitivo and zinfandel are genetically the same grape, and both descend from the Croatian crljenak kaštelanski. This was demonstrated by DNA research led by grape geneticist Carole Meredith of UC Davis, together with Ivan Pejić and Edi Maletić of the University of Zagreb.

From May 1998 the team searched Croatian vineyards, found the grape in September 2000 on the Dalmatian coast, and confirmed the match with DNA tests in December 2001. Zinfandel is the name in California, primitivo the name in Italy.

The shop stocks primitivo from, among others, Epicuro, Familia, Lifili, Masca del Tacco, Poggio Le Volpi and Rocca Grande. These include Primitivo di Manduria, such as Lu Rappaio from Masca del Tacco, and primitivo of Salento origin, such as that from Lifili. Salento IGT covers the whole provinces of Brindisi, Lecce and Taranto; if a grape is named on the label, at least 85 percent comes from that grape.

From Epicuro there is both a wine from dried grapes (Appassite) and a rosato. If you are unsure which bottle suits an occasion, call the shop or drop by at Brink 2 in Bathmen.

The shop is at Brink 2 in Bathmen. Open Tuesday to Friday from 09.00 to 18.00 and Saturday from 09.00 to 17.00. For advice, call 0570 541 278 or email info@bockje.nl.