Puglia

Introduction

Puglia, forming the heel of Italy's boot, is one of the country's largest wine-producing regions by volume and has transformed in recent decades from a bulk-wine supplier into a source of increasingly prestigious, terroir-driven reds.

Terroir and Winemaking

The region's hot, sun-drenched Mediterranean climate and ancient bush-trained vines favor generous, full-bodied reds. Primitivo — genetically identical to California's Zinfandel — produces ripe, high-alcohol wines with dark fruit and a touch of spice, particularly around Manduria. Negroamaro, the other pillar of Puglia's red wine identity, offers a more savory, earthy character and is the backbone of Salice Salentino. Whites and rosés play a smaller but growing role, often made from Verdeca and Bombino, reflecting a region increasingly focused on quality over sheer volume.