📍 Apulia

Apulia (Puglia) is the “heel” of Italy's boot in the south-east, stretching between the Adriatic and Ionian seas. It is one of Italy's biggest wine regions by volume. The climate is hot and dry, winters are mild, and there are very many sunny days.

The main red grapes are Negroamaro and Primitivo (the same as Zinfandel in California), as well as Montepulciano, Malvasia Nera and Uva di Troia. They give full, fruity, often slightly sweet reds. Known whites are Verdeca, Bombino Bianco, Fiano and Malvasia. Rosé from Negroamaro is one of the region's trademarks.

The region includes the Salento peninsula in the south and the Murgia plateau in the centre; Apulia has many appellations: Barletta, Ostuni, Cacc'e mmitte di Lucera, Daunia, Moscato di Trani, Rosso di Cerignola and others. Much wine used to go for blending, but the number of high-quality bottled wines is growing.

Apulia suits anyone who likes rich southern reds at a fair price. A large share of Apulian wine goes into blends, but local estates increasingly bottle their own. The reds pair well with orecchiette pasta, grilled meat and hard cheeses, and Negroamaro rosé is ideal for summer.