Provinces: Bari, Brindisi, Foggia, Lecce, Taranto
This slender land that forms the heel of the Italian
boot vies with Sicily as the largest wine producer among
the 20 regions. Long noted as a source of blending wines,
Apulia has recently begun to realize its enormous quality
potential, switching the emphasis to dry, fruity whites
and reds of notable character under the 25 D.O.C. appellations.
The region boasts ideal conditions for wines in its
sunny plains and gentle rises of the Murge plateau. The
southern Salento peninsula has long been the source of
strong, dark wines based on Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera,
which also make some of Italy’s finest rosés.
A variety on the rise is Primitivo, an ancient vine
that has turned out to be the same as California’s Zinfandel.
In the centre, near the regional capital of Bari, are
the vineyards of Castel del Monte, noted for robust reds
and delicate rosés. The traditional whites of
Locorotondo and Martina Franca come from the respected
Verdeca and Bianco d’Alessano varieties.
Promising
are whites from the recently introduced varieties of
Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay and Sauvignon.
Useful contacts:
Movimento del Turismo del Vino - C/o Associazione Culturale
Trattorie di Puglia - Via Fanelli 206/6 - Bari - Tel.:
0039 080 501 8268 - http://www.wineday.org |
