Puglia is often considered to be the engine room of Italy’s red wine production, producing large quantities of inexpensive wines, particularly Primitivo. Nevertheless Puglia also offers some interesting high quality DOCG wines from fascinating microzones. In recent years there has been renewed interest in the region’s local grape varieties such as Negroamaro, Nero di Troia and Susumaniello.
Castel del Monte DOC is one of the most important appellations in Puglia. Named after the medieval castle that dominates its skyline, the area is known for the production of full bodied, fruit forward red wines from Aglianico, Bombino Nero, Montepulciano and Uva di Troia.
Osutni is an interesting DOC if only for its rare grape varieties. Whites can be made with Francavidda or Impigno, while reds can be produced with using the little known Ottavianello.
Primitivo di Manduria is one of two great DOC expressions of the Primitivo grape. Along with mono-varietal Primitivo made in Gioia del Colle, the area is capable of producing deliciously rich and ripe red wines.
Puglia’s first DOCG wine, Primitivo di Manduria Dolce Naturale DOCG is produced from Primitivo dried on the vine. The wine isn’t made every year, but only when the conditions are suitable.
Puglia IGP incorporates winemaking throughout Puglia. Many different wine styles and grape varieties are permitted.
The regional appellation of Salento covers a lot of winemaking in Puglia. Its rules permit the use of a host of different grape varieties, of which Negroamaro and Primitivo are the most popular.
Salice Salentino is one of the most famous wines in the south of Italy. It mainly produces red wines from Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera di Brindisi but the Rosato style also has outstanding potential.
Aleatico di Puglia is a sweet wine appellation in Puglia for wines produced with the Aleatico grape. As the only DOC that covers the entire region, there are dozens of producers that make a version of these luxurious, sticky wines.
Alezio is a red wine producing area close to Gallipoli in the south of Puglia. It produces wines from a minimum of 80% Negroamaro, while Malvasia Nera, Sangiovese and Montepulciano can make up the rest of the blend. We know of no producers currently bottling their wines under this DOC.
Barletta is a DOC wine produced in Puglia. Red wines are made with Negroamaro and white wines with Malvasia.
Brindisi is a small wine growing DOC around the city of Brindisi in Puglia. Red wines are the most interesting here and can be made with Malvasia Nera, Negroamaro and Susumaniello.
Cacc’è Mmitte di Lucera is a small DOC based around the town of Lucera in Puglia. Here wines are produced from Nero di Troia, Montepulciano and Bombino Bianco.
The success of the Bombino Nero grape in the Castle del Monte DOC resulted in a separate DOCG being created in 2011. Wines must be made with a minimum 90% Bombino Nero.
Castel del Monte Nero di Troia Riserva DOCG is one of Puglia’s great red wines. It offers up refined, long lasting red wines from the Nero di Troia variety.
The Riserva category of the Castel del Monte DOC broke away in 2011 to become its own protected DOCG. It permits only red wines from a minimum of 65% Nero di Troia.
Copertino DOC is a red and rosé wine producing appellation in Puglia, producing dry and dusty red wines from a minimum of 70% Negroamaro.
The hilly Daunia area is located in the north of Puglia, close to the borders of Basilicata and Molise. Here a continental climate of cold winters and hot summers suits both Aglianico and Nero di Troia. Few producers use the appellation but it could well gain in appeal as fashion for cooler climate wines grows.
Galatina is one of Puglia’s obscure DOC wines, covering vineyards planted between Copertino and Alezio. The best wines tend to come from either Negroamaro or Montepulciano.
Gioia del Colle is one of the most important appellations for Primitivo. It produces a slightly fresher style of wine than in the lower altitude Primitivo di Manduria DOC.
Gravina is a very small DOC in the south of Puglia. Although largely unknown, its relatively higher elevation and limestone soils are well suited to the Greco as well as plantings of Primitivo and Montepulciano. Passito wines are made from Malvasia Bianca.
Levarano is a small DOC in Puglia focussing on red and rose wines from Negroamaro.
Lizzano DOC in Puglia is home to white wines made from Trebbiano Toscano, Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco while reds are made from Negroamaro, Montepulciano and Bombino Nero.
Locorotondo DOC is a small white wine appellation in Puglia. Varieties include Bianco d’Alessano, Fiano, Verdeca. Sparkling wine is also produced.
Moscato di Trani DOC is home to sweet wines from the Moscato Bianco grape, where it is sometimes known by the synonym Moscato Reale. Production is low, but they can be very good.
Murgia IGP covers a vast range of grape varieties grown around Bari and the flat stretch of land to the north. Like elsewhere in Puglia, it is Negroamaro and Primitivo than provide the most popular choices.
The small town of Nardò in the Province of Lecce in Puglia is home to some excellent wines from the Negroamaro grape.
Produced across Taranto, Brindisi, and Lecce, Negroamaro di Terra d’Otranto DOC was established in 2011.
Orca Nova DOC is a red or rose wine produced in the north of Puglia around the town of Orta Nova. It is typically produced with a majority of Sangiovese or Nero di Troia but can include other local grapes such as Montepulciano.
Rosso di Cerignola is made from red grapes grown around the town of Cerignola in the north of Puglia. These wines are fairly simple and rarely seen outside of the region.
San Severo DOC is small winemaking area just north of Italian city of Foggia in Puglia. It is a very localised appellation and rarely seen outside the region.
Squinzano is a small DOC wine in Puglia. Although there are some white wines produced from Chardonnay, Fiano, Malvasia and Sauvignon Blanc, the most important wines are red and generally made from a blend of Negroamaro and Susumaniello.
Created in 2011 Terra d’Otranto is a small DOC making both red and white wines from Puglia’s typical varieties. Sparkling wine is also made here.
Michele Calò produces a number of varietal wines in the Salento area of Puglia.
Cantine de Falco is an important producer in Puglia. They are known for excellent value wines made from Primitivo and Negroamaro.
Cantine San Pancrazio produces a range of good value wines in Salento. Negroamaro in particular is cultivated on the famous ‘albarello Pugliese’ bush vines that characterise the area.
Paolo Patruno is one of the boutique producers of Gioia del Colle in Puglia.
Producing around four million bottles a year, Paolo Leo is one of the bigger players in the Salento area of Puglia. That being said, the company produce some excellent value wines, particularly in the DOCs of Primitivo di Manduria and Salice Salentino.
The Cantele winery produces fruit driven wines from Negroamaro in Salento.
The historic Azienda Vitivinicola Francesco Candido is known for the production of Salice Salentino, notably the estate’s flagship ‘Duca d’Aragona’.
Cantine Carpentiere is a small producer in Puglia making wines in the Castel del Monte DOC zone.
Cantina Giara is known for producing Primitivo in one of the grape’s benchmark appellations of Gioia del Colle DOC.
Fatalone is an organic producer of premium wines based in Gioia del Colle. The estate is known for producing elegant, age worthy wines from Primitivo.
