Primitivo Salento IGT
Winner: Gold Medal
2008 Southern Italian Wine Conference
- Country: Italy
- Region: Apulia
- District: Salento
- Varietals: 100% Primitivo
- Varietals: Single vineyard and vintage
- Alcohol: 13.0%
- Aging: Up to 3 months in stainless steel followed by minimum 6 months in French oak barrels
- Bottle: 750ml
Winemaker: Cantine Rizzello
Wine Notes:
This exceptional wine is known as one of the true gems of Salento and southern Italy, and is recognized as the grandfather of American red Zinfandel.
Historical text indicates that early Italian immigrants, who helped organize and establish the wine regions of Northern California, actually utilized the vines of Primitivo to create Zinfandel. This wine shares the same genetic characteristics and DNA as American red Zinfandel.
It appears that the variety from which this wine is made, got its name because of its tendency to ripen earlier than other types of vines. It is believed through archaeological evidence that points to the domestication of vitis vinifera somewhere in the Caucasus around 6000 BCE, and to the discovery of winemaking shortly after. From there it spread to the Mediterranean, and then along the coast to Greece, the Balkans and Italy. It is now known that Croatia has many indigenous varieties that are quite closely related to Primitivo di Manduria, which formed the basis of a considerable wine industry in the 1800s.
Italians claim Primitivo as the descendant of the grape that made "merum", a wine brought to Puglia by Illyrian colonists before the Greeks arrived in the 7th century BC. Horace and other Roman writers mention "mera tarantina" from Taranto, and Pliny the Elder describes Manduria as viticulosa (full of vineyards). The first official mention of Primitivo is not until Italian governmental publications of the 1870s. The fact that such records come 40 years after Zinfandel is first documented in the USA led some to suggest that Primitivo was introduced from across the Atlantic; this became unlikely after the discovery of its origin across the Adriatic in Dalmatia. However, historical text indicate that early Italian immigrants who helped organize and establish the wine regions of Northern California, actually utilized the vines of Primitivo di Manduria to create Zinfandel. In fact, this wine shares the same genetic characteristics and DNA as American Red Zinfandel. From the renowned wine producing state of Puglia, this wine hails from one of the regions centers of attention; Taranto. This amazing wine is an excellent example of the high quality wines produced in the south, which are influenced by the volcanic rich soil and climate of the Adriatic Sea and Bay of Taranto.
Winemaker Notes:
At sight a deep ruby red color turning dark orange with age. The bouquet is persistent and delicious. The nose hints of sweet red fruit and blueberries. The taste is fresh and long on the palate with medium tannins and a rich full body, always smooth and pleasant, with a long and wonderfully persistent finish.
This wine can be enjoyed young and becomes more refined for 3 to 4 years.
At its best when opened 30 minutes or longer prior to serving.
Pairing:
Pairs well with roasted or grilled meats, pasta, fried fish and shellfish, and spicy dishes.
