“Non c’è in Europa una regione così facilmente accessibile, quasi a portata di mano, che sia così prodiga di sorprese nel campo dell’architettura e della scultura e che ci dia, a un livello così alto, la piacevole sensazione di esserci allontanati nel tempo e nello spazio.
In Europe there is no such accessible region, almost at hand, that is so full of surprises in the field of architecture and sculpture and that gives us, at such a high level, the pleasant sensation of being away from time and space
-André Pieyre de Mandiargues
Puglia’s average annual wine production of 700 million litres (2nd in volume among the regions) includes about 12% DOC and 19% IGT. Red and Rose’ wines account for slightly more than half of Puglia’s production.
Puglia is now bringing its wines to a new high standard of quality. Knowns as the ‘cellar of Italy’, it produces wines that have been well known since ancient times (circa 7-8th century B.C.), the time of Magna Graecia.
Under the Romans, Apulia wines were exported around the civilised world. In the days of the Renaissance, Lorenzo il Magnifico found them most acceptable, and after the French occupation of Italy, huge quantities were shipped to France.
In recent years the region has seen a large-scale renovation of its wine sector. Steady improvement in quality along with an increase in quantity of classified wine (including the six IGT categories) has led to a growing reputation for wines widely appreciated for value abroad.
Puglia can be divided roughly in two viticultural sectors by a hypothetical line crossing the region between Brindisi and Taranto. To the north, the terrain consists of plains and rolling hills where the climate is temperate. Dry wines from this area tend to have moderate strength, with impressive fruit, good acidity and ample bouquet. Red wines generally derive from the native Uva di Troia or Bombino Nero, as well as Montepulciano and Sangiovese. White wines are dominated by the Verdeca variety, though Bianco d’Alessano, Malvasia, Trebbiano and Bombino Bianco are also evident.
South of the Brindisi – Taranto line lies Salento, a peninsula of low, rolling hills that extends between the Adriatic and Ionian seas to the easternmost point of Italy. Though hot, Salento is not quite torrid, thanks to the play of sea currents and breezes that waft across the Adriatic from the Balkans. Salento’s traditional wines were the powerful, inky reds from Primitivo, Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera, but increasing attention is being given to fresher reds and rosés, as well as to some unexpectedly bright and fruity white wines.