Denominazione di Origine Controllata
The Primitivo di Manduria D.O.C. appellation covers eighteen municipalities in the provinces of Taranto and Brindisi, in Puglia, southern Italy, together with a small portion of the municipality of Taranto itself. The vineyards are spread across two landscapes: the Ionian Arc along the coast, where shallow, sandy soils dominate, and the inland Salento area, with deeper clay-limestone soils. The climate is Mediterranean, with mild winters (average minimum around 6-7°C) and warm summers (average maximum around 25-26°C), tempered by the nearby Ionian Sea. Annual rainfall, close to 650 mm, falls mainly in winter. Primitivo is the mandatory base variety, making up at least 85% of the blend, complemented by other non-aromatic black grape varieties authorized in the provinces of Taranto and Brindisi, up to a maximum of 15%. This duality of landscapes, from the Ionian coastline to the Salento hinterland, shapes a range of terroirs within a compact area centered on Manduria.
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The appellation produces red wines in two categories: Primitivo di Manduria and Primitivo di Manduria Riserva. The base wines show an intense red color turning garnet with age, a broad, complex bouquet, and a dry to off-dry, velvety palate, with a minimum alcohol content of 13.5%. The Riserva, aged for at least twenty-four months including a minimum of nine months in wood, displays an intense red color with garnet hues, complex aromas sometimes recalling plum, a full body and a velvety texture, with a minimum alcohol content of 14%. These powerful, structured wines pair well with roasted or grilled red meats, rich pasta dishes, game, and aged cheeses; the Riserva, being more structured, also rewards several years of cellaring.
Discovery
07 Sep 2026
Wine Terroirs
01 Sep 2026
Discovery
21 Aug 2026