Primitivo (Zinfandel)

Dark and rich Primitivo wines are the signature reds of Puglia, in the very south of Italy. Originally from Croatia, where it’s known as Crljenak Kaštelanski or Tribidrag, this grape also became popular in the New World under its American name Zinfandel.

Read our in-depth Guide on Primitivo wine to learn more about this wonderful Italian red.

What does Primitivo wine taste like?

These inky wines have a rich and ripe taste, packed with tannins and alcohol for a really powerful punch. Expect flavours of black fruit compote and aromas of leather, blueberries and fig.

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The name “Primitivo” literally means “early-ripening”, as this red grape is typically harvested in early September. It ripens unevenly, so grapes for premium wines have to be harvested by hand to ensure only the best berries are picked.

The most important area for this wine is Primitivo di Manduria DOC, which covers 4,532 hectares between Trapani and Lecce. It produces about 20 million bottles of dry Primitivo wine each year. Primitivo di Manduria DOCG wine is a sweet expression, only made from late harvest grapes left to air-dry on the vine (so-called dolce naturale). Only around 150 thousand bottles of such sweet Primitivo wine are made.

Salento IGT – which stretches over the provinces of Brinidisi, Lecce and Taranto – ships around 16 million bottles of Primitivo wine per year. Although Manduria is the most prestigious zone for this wine, Salento IGT produces some truly excellent examples of dry Primitivo.

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