Primitivo

Grape type: Black

Primitivo grapevine is one of the most important grape varieties of Puglia, together with Negroamaro and Nero di Troia. Even tough it is widespread in the whole Puglia, it is typical and mainly produced in the territory of Manduria, in province of Taranto.

The name derives from its early bloom and from the early maturation of the grapes. Primitivo is, in fact, one of the few grape varieties to give two harvests, one towards the end of August and beginning of September, another in late September and early October.

Primitivo is a black grape variety that produces wines with a colour tending to purple, a fruity aroma, with hints of cherry and plum, and a warm rightly tannic and full-bodied flavour, which tends to soften with ageing.

Primitivo has a simple, compact and conical bunch. The grapes are of medium size and have a thick bluish skin.

It is also possible to produce a Primitivo dessert wine which must have an alcohol content of at least 16.5% of the volume.