Up until the 1990’s most of Puglia wines were seen fit only for blending, because of this, the local producers tried to rid themselves of this unwanted reputation, bringing about a radical transformation of their industry.

Jutting out into the blue waters of the Mediterranean, the vineyards of Puglia receive very little natural moisture and they bake rather than bask in the constant southern Italy sunshine...this results in deep coloured wines with strong flavours and high alcoholic levels and content. It is for this reason Puglia, now known as ‘Europe’s wine cellar’ has in the past 20 years, been recognised as a big wine producing player.

Because of the competitive market the wine industry finds itself in, Puglia is fortunate to have all the natural weather factors, climate and soil to produce a high quality wine with all the characteristics of a more expensive wine at a considerably cheaper buying price.

The UK wine industry has recognised this, and you will find every reputable wine bar, restaurant and enoteca stocking Pugliese wines.

The two most important grape varieties are Primitivo, which has been identified as

Zinfandel of California...a deep coloured, rich, concentrated flavour of cherry, cloves, blackberry and spice. The other, Negroamaro...which translated is ‘black-bitter’. A small amount of Malvasia Nera is blended to produce my favourite wine of Puglia...’Salice Salentino’...Dark, ruby in colour with a nose of blackberries with baked spices and dried fruits. Rich ruby red colour. The palate has a touch of spice, black fruit and ripe warm tannins, It is a wonderful balance of sweet ripeness and bitterness typical of Negroamaro, the presence of Malvasia Nera smoothing the sharpness making it a fantastic wine.

I must mention at this point Malvasia Bianca, a white grape grown in Puglia that, because of the exceptional climate in southern Italy, produces such an amazing straw yellow, intense aromatic wine, that is silky and velvety with almond scents on the finish.

I have been writing about one particular winery that I have been fortunate to know personally for the past five years. ‘Feudo di Santa Croce’ in Tarranto, Headed by Sig. GianAndrea Tinazzi is an estate that realises the importance of producing quality Pugliese wines for the UK market.

If you wish to know more about the wines I have reviewed please feel free to email me at giuseppe.bergonzi@gmail.com or contact me on 07702954879 - I will be happy to help you in any way I can.

Saluti da Puglia.