Puglia

Puglia lies in the south-east of Italy and also includes the heel of the boot, the Salento peninsula. According to the trade magazine Falstaff, the region runs along a coastal strip of about 350 kilometres and has some 100,500 hectares of vineyard. Most vineyards lie on flat land close to the sea. Falstaff also calls Puglia possibly the oldest wine region in Italy, where the Phoenicians and Greeks planted vines early on.

Within Puglia, roughly four parts are distinguished. In the north lies Daunia, the province of Foggia, with DOCs such as San Severo and Cacc’e Mmitte di Lucera. Below it lies the Murgia with Castel del Monte. The Valle d’Itria is known for the white Locorotondo DOC, made from verdeca and bianco d’alessano. Right in the south lies Salento, with the provinces of Brindisi, Lecce and Taranto.

The most important red grape of Puglia is negroamaro. According to the Italian sommelier association AIS, it covers about 18.5 percent of plantings and grows mainly in the provinces of Brindisi and Lecce. Primitivo follows with some 10.2 percent, mainly around Taranto and Bari. There is a separate page on this site about primitivo.

Nero di troia, also called uva di troia, is the grape of the north: around Castel del Monte and in the province of Foggia. AIS gives a share of 2.1 percent and reports that the name has been in use since 1875. Bombino bianco occurs mainly in the province of Foggia, bombino nero mainly around Castel del Monte, where it is used for rosé. In Puglia you will also see malvasia nera, montepulciano, verdeca and international grapes such as chardonnay and pinot grigio.

Puglia IGP and Salento IGP are protected geographical indications, also called IGT in Italy. Both were registered on 18 February 1999. Puglia IGP may come from the entire region. Salento IGP is smaller and covers the three provinces of Brindisi, Lecce and Taranto.

Similar rules apply to both. White, red, rosé, sparkling wine, novello, passito and wine from overripe grapes may fall under them. If a single grape is named on the label, at least 85 percent of the wine comes from that grape. For Salento IGP, grapes for passito may also be dried on the vine. According to Qualigeo, Puglia IGP covered 8,161 hectares. Under these designations, producers work more freely with grapes and blends than within a DOC.

According to the trade publication Gilbert & Gaillard, Puglia has four DOCGs, 28 DOCs and six IGTs. Three DOCGs derive from the former DOC Castel del Monte, the fourth is Primitivo di Manduria Dolce Naturale. Two well-known DOCs are Salice Salentino and Castel del Monte.

Salice Salentino DOC lies in Salento, in municipalities such as Salice Salentino, Veglie and Guagnano in Lecce and San Pancrazio Salentino and Sandonaci in Brindisi. A rosso consists of at least 75 percent negroamaro, a wine with negroamaro on the label of at least 90 percent. A Riserva matures for a minimum of 24 months, six of them in wood. Castel del Monte DOC, registered in 1973, lies in the provinces of Barletta-Andria-Trani and Bari. A rosso there comes from nero di troia, montepulciano or aglianico, alone or together, a bianco from, among others, bombino bianco, pampanuto and chardonnay.

In the shop there is wine from all over Puglia. From Lifili there are a Rosso and a Bianco Salento IGP, a Pinot Grigio Puglia and a Primitivo Salento. Don Ernesto makes a Negroamaro Salento, and from Rocca Grande both Passolo Bianco and Passolo Rosso from Salento are on the shelf. From the north comes Zensa Nero di Troia Puglia IGP.

Anyone looking for primitivo will find the Epicuro Cuvée Rosso di Puglia, Familia Primitivo di Manduria and Lu Rappaio Primitivo di Manduria from Masca del Tacco. If you are unsure which bottle suits a meal or occasion, call the shop on 0570 541 278 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.