Puglia or Apulia as we would say in English is a beautiful part of Italy. This long region is among the top wine producing regions in Italy. A large part of the wines are made with indigenous varieties such as Primitivo and Negro Amaro, two red grapes that many people know and have tasted in... Continue Reading →
Wine Wednesday: Primitivo di Gioia del Colle Muro Sant’Angelo-Contrada Barbatto 2013
My wine of the week for wine Wednesday is from Apulia, from Tenuta Chiaromonte. It is a Primitivo from Acquaviva delle Fonti in La Murgia which is near Bari in Apulia. The winery started in the 1800s with 3 hectares and now has 32 hectares. I tried this wine at the Gambero Rosso tasting earlier... Continue Reading →
Recovering After Italian Wine Week
I'd like to be on a boat overlooking Portovenere in Liguria today as I recover from an intense Italian Wine Week in New York. Slow Wine which took place last Wednesday feels like a year ago although it was only one week. I have seen so many people from the Italian wine world this week... Continue Reading →
Wine of the Week: Marzagaglia Primitivo Gioia del Colle
This week's wine of the wine is from Tenuta Patruno Perniola located in the Murgia pugliese, in the town of Gioia del Colle, which is between the provinces of Bari and Taranto. The family has owned the property since the 1800s. It is focused exclusively on Primitivo which they make in a number of different... Continue Reading →
Italian Indigenous Varieties: Bombino Bianco From Apulia, Bombino Nero From Basilicata
Thursday is indigenous grape variety day here at Avvinare. This week's grape is Bombino Bianco, a white grape variety which grows in Apulia and some other regions surrounding that part of the Italian boot. Bombino Bianco is cultivated both in the area around the city of Bari as well as the Salento, lower down in... Continue Reading →
Red Wine & Peaches – A Real Summer Treat
People always ask me if I miss Italy and of course, the answer is yes, who wouldn't. What is so hard to describe are the moments that encompass what Italy means to me. The little things. I had a sense memory of Italy some 20 years ago yesterday walking down Broadway. It was 1990 and... Continue Reading →
Italian Olive Oil: Cazzetta from the Salento
Today is Raffaele Cazzetta's birthday. Happy Birthday Raffa70. I thought on this occasion I would write up the interview that I did with him during the Fancy Food show last month. I met Raffaele in Apulia earlier this year during a trip to the Salento. The Salento is the very tip of Apulia which is... Continue Reading →
Vinitaly Tastings: Vigne Rare From Pirro Varone in Apulia
During my stay at Vinitaly, I had the occasion to try numerous wines. Like old and new friends, each time you seem them things are slightly different. This trip to the fair I found myself in the Apulia building tasting at specific stands. Last year I was tasting through a specific grape variety, Aleatico, but... Continue Reading →
Italian Indigenous Varieties: Aleatico
My series on Italian grape varieties continues on Altacucina Society's website. This week's article is on Aleatico. Aleatico grows in a number of different Italian regions, the most famous of which are Tuscany, Apulia and Lazio. I have tried a number of these wines and find them quite interesting. Aleatico can be made into a... Continue Reading →