Puglia

Question 1

Describe the location of Puglia?

Answer 1

Heel of Italy
South of Abruzzo
Surrounded on 3 sides by Med Sea

Question 2

What is the climate of Puglia?

Answer 2

HOT Mediterranean climate with moderating breezes from the sea
low rainfall = less threat from fungal disease

Question 3

Soils/Irrigation in Puglia?

Answer 3

Fertile soils, irrigation permitted

Question 4

Historically the wines from Puglia were used how?

Answer 4

exported to cooler areas of Italy to add alcohol and body to wines

Question 5

What wine is made now in Puglia?

Answer 5

Much inexpensive wine made, but growers are seeking to raise quality and prices.

Question 6

what are the top 6 varieties grown in Puglia

Answer 6

1. Sangiovese
2. Primitive
3. Negromaro
4. Montepulciano
5. Trebbiano Toscano (white)
6. Trebbiano Giallo (white)

Question 7

What are Sangiovese and Montepulciano used mostly for?

Answer 7

Large volumes of black grapes for bulk wines

Question 8

3 Main black varieties typical of the Puglia region?

Answer 8

1. Primitive
2. Negromaro
3. Nero di Troia

Question 9

Key characteristics of Primitivo grape?

Answer 9

1. High yielding
2. AKA Zinfandel
3. Ripens early in Puglia
4. picked in August
5. Prone to spring frost, drought and poor flowering/fruitset
   6.Bunches are looser with smaller berries = more disease resistant than Zinfandel in California
6. Uneven ripening = strict sorting to produce Quality wine
7. High sugar = High alcohol
8. grapes can dry on vine adding to alcohol, so good judging for harvest important to avoid jammy or dried fruit flavour

Question 10

How are vines trellised in Puglia? Old/New?

Answer 10

Older vines typically bush trained and
planted at low density, providing some shading for fruit
New vines (and inexpensive wines) trellised (cordon trained or cane-pruned with VSP) = mechanisation possible

Question 11

How are inexpensive wines made vs Premium wines?

Answer 11

vinified at warm temperatures (26-32ºC)
7-10 days maceration to extract colour and med high levels of tannin
Aged for short (6 months) in S/S or large casks
Premium wine will have longer on skins for greater structure and aged in French Oak for 12 months

Question 12

What are the 2 Main DOCs of Puglia?

Answer 12

1. Primitivo di Manduria DOC - grape is named so 85% must be Primitive, Max Yield 63 hL/ha
   Riserva aged for 2 1/2 years, incl 9m in wood, min 14% abv
2. Gioia del Colle DOC - must be 50-60% Primitive, blended with Montepulciano, Sangiovese and/or Negromara, up to 10% Malvasia
   Max yield 52 hL/ha.
   Riserva must be aged 2 yrs (no wood requirement), min 14% abv.
   Hilly area (slightly cooler 250-500m) both DOCs make full-bodied, high alcohol wines

Question 13

Tasting Notes for Primitivo di Manduria DOC and Gioia del Colle DOC

Answer 13

Med (+) to pronounced intensity, ripe to jammy red cherry and strawberry, Med acidity and Med(+) tannin
Some acceptable to good wines plus some outstanding ones
Top producers = Gianfranco Fino (PdMandura) and polvareda (GdColle)

Question 14

Why has Primativo had mixed fortunes in recent decades?

Answer 14

Many old vines removed under EU wine pull scheme, but has become more popular again, partly through success of Californian Zinfandel.

Question 15

Where is Negromara planted?

Answer 15

widely grown on Eastern side of Salento peninsula

Question 16

describe negromara?

Answer 16

High yielding
good resistance to disease and drought
retains acidity
previously used to add alcohol and body to wines (like Primativo)

Question 17

what is the most important DOC using Negromara?

Answer 17

Salice Salentino DOC

Question 18

Salice Salentino Rosso DOC requirements?

Answer 18

Min 75% Negromara
if Variety on label, 90% Negromara
max yield 84 hL/ha - but can lead to low concentration.
Riserva must be aged for min 2 yrs with 6m in wood

Question 19

how are red wines made with Negromara

Answer 19

Macerated on skins for 7-10 days
Aged in S/S for 6m for inexpensive wines or a year in oak for more premium wines

Question 20

Tasting notes for Salice Salentino DOC

Answer 20

Black plum and black cherry fruit, med to hi alcohol, med acidity and med (+) tannin

Question 21

Describe a Rosato wine made from negromaro

Answer 21

Deep pink orange in colour
popular as a summer drink in the region and wider Italian market
Good quality and inexpensive to mid-priced

Question 22

Name a producer for Negromara

Answer 22

Leone de Castris (incl Rosato)

Question 23

Where is Nero di Troia grown?

Answer 23

mainly grown in central and middle parts of Puglia

Question 24

characteristics of Nero di Troia grape?

Answer 24

Late ripening
prone to Downy mildew
Needs a long season to develop it’s colour = susceptible to autumn rain
uneven ripening = picking at different times = increased passes.

Question 25

Most important PDO for Nero di Troia?

Answer 25

Castel del Monte (min 90% Nero di Troia if variety on label)

Question 26

Tasting note for Nero di Troia / Castel del Monte?

Answer 26

Med intensity of red cherry and redcurrant fruit with black pepper note
High but fine-grained tannins and med(+) acidity.

Question 27

Winemaking for Castel del Monte DOC vs DOCG?

Answer 27

DOC (max yield 91 hL/ha) aged in S/S for 6m
DOCG for Riserva wines (70 hL/ha), 2 yrs of ageing in French oak or casks, 1 yr in wood.
Wines are typically good to v good, a few outstanding

Question 28

Wine Business: What quality wine does Puglia typically produce?

Answer 28

Less than 10% is classed as PDO
60% classed as just ‘wine’.

Question 29

Wine Business: Who is the largest Co-Op?

Answer 29

Cantina Due Palme, 100 members, 2,500 ha of vineyards

Question 30

Quality has increased in recent decades due to investment from which Italian Wine company?

Answer 30

Antinori at Tormaresca