Have you ever ever tasted Puglian wine? This outstanding wine-producing area is an excellent vacation spot for romantics, historical past buffs and novice sommeliers alike.
Pughlia, a preferred area in southeast Italy, is actually the heel within the boot of Italian geography. Its ports of Taranto and Otranto are fashionable components of Windstar’s Bella Italia Southern Italian Romance itineraries, and sometimes embody locations akin to Italy’s neighborhing Reggio-Calabria and, on the Adriatic, the Croatian coast. Its attraction? It’s residence to quaint villages, picturesque farms and breathtaking castles — and, in fact, wine.
Whereas Puglian tourism has been on the rise lately, a lot of the area continues to be off the primary vacationer observe. Should you love attempting out new wines, undoubtedly test into Windstar’s wine-themed shore adventures, like a visit out within the nation to Campi Deantra.
Puglia and Wine
Puglia’s heat local weather and fertile soil make the area excellent for rising wine grapes, which is why it’s tied with Sicily for the second-largest wine-producing area in Italy. It’s additionally the nation’s prime olive oil area, contributing practically 40% of Italy’s complete manufacturing. It’s additionally the birthplace of burrata, a mushy cheese constituted of mozzarella and cream.
Puglia can be a area that superbly blends outdated and new. All through the area, you’ll discover idyllic vineyards, outdated church buildings and historical ruins from generations previous. And whereas it used to have a repute for producing low-end bulk wine, up-and-coming impartial wineries are remodeling the area with progressive, artisanal blends.
Sorts of Wine Puglia Produces
Puglian wine is thought for its full-bodied, fruit-forward pink wines, although there are many white and Rosato (rosé) varieties out there as nicely.
The 2 hottest Puglian pink wines are:
Primitivo: Should you’ve tried Zinfandel, you’ve tried Primitivo grapes! Italian immigrants introduced these early-ripening grapes with them to the U.S. within the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. They produce daring and fruity wines with a definite jammy style that resembles dried fruit. Attempt a Primitivo wine with a Puglian dish like parmigiana di melanzane — that’s eggplant Parmesan in English.
Salice Salentino: Constituted of Negroamaro grapes within the southern area of Salento, Salice Salentino is a dry pink varietal with low acidity and a sturdy physique. Its distinctive taste profile affords hints of raspberry, plum and spices, which works nicely with olive oil-based Mediterranean meals like antipasti, savory soups and grilled meats.
Curious concerning the area’s lesser-known choices? You’ll find many various kinds of wine grapes in Puglia, together with:
Bombino Nero: This late-ripening pink grape has skinny pores and skin, making it excellent for Rosato. Bombino Nero Rosato is excessive in acidity and has a fruity, floral taste profile with hints of strawberry and rose petals. It pairs nicely with charcuterie, pizza, salads and seafood.
Bombino Bianco: This white wine grape produces light-bodied, mushy wines with refined notes of citrus and wildflowers. You’re almost certainly to search out it in blends or glowing wines, which pair nicely with recent cheeses, pasta and lean fish. It’s additionally generally used to make raisins.
Nero di Troia: This black-skinned grape is native to northern Puglia and mostly present in dry pink wines. It has a medium acidity and excessive tannins, with wealthy flavors like licorice, plum and tobacco. Such a daring style makes it an ideal match for wealthy dishes like lasagna and roasted recreation.
Verdeca: Verdeca grapes are impartial in taste and distinctive to Puglia, although they’ve fallen out of trend lately. Wines that function Verdeca are often light-bodied and refreshing, with notes of pineapple and citrus that make them a pleasant complement to shellfish and recent greens.
Greco Bianco: Historians consider this millennia-old white grape has ties to historical Greece — it could have been one of many unique grapes planted by the Greek colonizers throughout the eighth century. It’s typically utilized in dessert wines, however you may also discover it in dry wines. Ultimate pairings for Greco Bianco-based wines embody pasta with shellfish and candied nuts.
For many who wish to expertise the Puglian wine scene for themselves, we suggest taking a tour by the vineyards or having fun with a wine pairing session at one of many area’s many wineries.
Source link
