Primitivo di Manduria Wines

The Primitivo di Manduria is produced in Puglia in the Taranto province in an area that includes the Manduria, Carosino, Monteparano, Leporano, Pulsano, Faggiano, Roccaforzata, San Giorgio Jonico, San Marzano di San Giuseppe, Fragagnano, Lizzano, Sava, Torricella, Maruggio, Avetrana towns, in the Tarsano hamlet, in the administrative islands of the Taranto town contained in the Fragagnano and Lizzano towns. Also the Brindisi province has a little slice of land where the Primitivo di Manduria could be produced in fact, according to the technical policy of productions, Erchie, Oria and Torre Santa Susanna towns make part of the production territories.

This particular wine that you can find on our online wine shop catalogued by regions, prices, and typologies, comes from the Primitivo grapes. The Primitivo vine already widespread in all the South of Italy, from the Abruzzo to the Basilicata and from Sardegna to Campania, has selected Puglia, especially the Manduria area, as election territory. Its origins are not sure but it is thought it comes from Dalmatia and that it was imported in Puglia more than 2000 years ago from the ancient Illiri population. Its name come surely from its precocity in the maturation of the grapes. The characteristics of intensity and richness of its body in union with its productivity (which is not always regular) made this wine a blended wine. Since few time, by working on the decreasing of the return and by using back the local traditional cultivation method such as the alberate, in addition to a more accurate wine making process, the local farmers were able to improve the quality of the Primitivo so much that it is also loved by an international audience.

The main varietal characteristics of this wine show a medium large leaf with a pentagonal shape and pentalobate. The bunch is also medium large, extended with a conic shape due to the double wing and concerning the compactness it is considered a medium body bunch. The grape is also medium large with a spheroidal shape with an intense blue peel very bloomy and thick.

Concerning the production characteristic of this vine the Primitivo has a medium vigor and an early maturation period. It has an elevate productivity but, as already said, not constant. It has not to be cultivated in arid and hot temperatures and it is cultivated in alberate with 4 or 5 spurs. The single variety wine making gives a very intense and deep ruby red color wine. The scent is spicy and fruity. The taste is warm, soft and tannic at the right point. It has also a great structure and a long persistence.

The Primitivo vines with honorable certifications such as the DOC, the DOCG and IGT are spread all around the southern Italy such as in Campania, Basilicata and of course in Puglia but also in Abruzzo. About the DOC the most renowned ones are in Campania: the Cilento DOC and the Falerno del Massico DOC. In Basilicata the Matera DOC and in Puglia: the Aleatico di Puglia DOC, Colline Joniche Tarantine DOC, Gioia del Colle DOC, Gravina DOC, Primitivo di Manduria DOC, Terra d'Otranto DOC. For the DOCG certification in Puglia there is the fantastic Primitivo di Manduria Dolce Naturale DOCG. About the IGT certification in Basilicata there is the Basilicata IGT and in Campania the Benevento o Beneventano IGT, Campania IGT, Colli di Salerno IGT, Dugenta IGT, Epomeo IGT, Paestum IGT, Pompeiano IGT, Roccamorfina IGT and Terre del Volturno IGT. In Abruzzo there are: Colli Aprutini IGT, Colli del Sangro IGT, Colline Frentane IGT, Colline Pescaresi IGT, Colline Teatine IGT, del Vastese o Histonium IGT, Terre Aquilane o dell'Aquila IGT, Terre di Chieti IGT. Finally in Puglia there are the Daunia IGT, Murgia IGT, Puglia IGT, Salento IGT, Tarantino IGT and Valle d'Itria IGT. 

The wine named DOC “Primitivo di Manduria” has to be produced with at least the 85% of Primitivo grapes and there could be added some other black grapes, for a maximum of 15%, that are not aromatic but suitable to be cultivated in the Taranto and Brindisi provinces.

The DOCG “Primitivo di Manduria Dolce Naturale” name is reserved to those wines produced with a single variety wine making at 100%.

The minimum alcoholic degree has to be 13°. It has an intense red color with some reflections between the garnet and the violet colors. The wide and complex scent puts in evidence some prunes and marasca cherry aromas. It has a very sweet, velvety and equilibrated taste with good aromatic persistence. It is always dry, warm and sapid with a great body and power but at the same time is soft and its noble tannins are never intrusive with a long and pleasant persistence.

The red wine Primitivo di Manduria, has to be served in little wine glasses between 14° and 16° degrees.

As sweet wine, the Primitivo di Manduria  is perfect with spoon desserts and dry bakery especially the one based on almond such as the traditional “scajuèzzuli” and the cupeta. It is perfect also with chocolate, figs, chestnuts, toasted almonds, macaroon, aged pecorino and blue cheeses. It is perfect also with orecchiette alle cime di rapa, grilled meat and game. It is pleasant also with king trumpet mushrooms and aged cheeses.