Primitivo di Puglia IGT
Puglians believe that the name “Primitivo” (meaning “first”) comes from the fact that the Primitivo grapes are the first to be picked in the area as they reach optimum ripeness at the end of August. From the Salento region of Puglia, which makes up the heel on Italy’s boot, this wine is made in one of Italy’s most southerly wine-producing regions. The Salento peninsula has the perfect micro-climate for grape growing, with the harsh sun being tempered by the cooling breezes from the sea surrounding the region on three sides. Primitivo is the region’s best quality red grape and is grown using the traditional method of vine training – Alberello. The Alberello shelters the berries from the harsh summer sun and protects them from getting sunburn. The area has abundant rainfall in winter, and it is essential to help the vines through the extremely hot summers by working the soil in order to avoid dehydration.
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Grapes 100% Primitivo Vineyard areas The Primitivo grapes are selected from low-yielding vineyards near Sava and Salento in southern Puglia. The traditional Alberello basso vine training method is employed. Harvest The grapes are carefully picked by hand at the end of August and early September. The vineyards are picked over and over again, with pickers selecting only those bunches at the perfect stage of maturity. Vinification After de-stemming, the grapes are not crushed, allowing them to remain intact, reducing damage to the skins and ensuring optimum colour extraction. Selected yeasts are added to initiate fermentation. Maceration lasts for approximately 10 days, followed by racking. Fermentation Fermentation is temperature controlled at 28 - 30°C for 8 -10 days. Frequent remontage and delestage are carried out in the early stages of fermentation in order to achieve soft extraction of aromas and gentle tannins. There is continuous tasting to judge the exact amount of remontage and delestage required. After racking, malolactic bacteria are added to induce malolactic fermentation. Ageing The wine is aged for approximately 12 months in barriques Alcohol 13.5%