What is Italian Primitivo?
Primitivo is a red wine grape variety that is also known as zinfandel. It is the third-most planted grape in Puglia, in southern Italy. Primitivo makes wines that are big, jammy, and rustic, with high alcohol, chewy tannins, and a sweet finish.
What does Primitivo mean in Italian wine?
early one
The name Primitivo translates roughly as “early one” (there is an obvious link here with Tempranillo, which means the same thing in Spanish), and refers to the variety’s early-ripening nature. One might be forgiven for thinking that the grape was in some way “primitive”, perhaps less refined than other grape varieties.
Which grape is called Primitivo in Italy?
Zinfandel
When you’re tasting Italian Primitivo, it might be surprising to find out that it comes from the same grape as Zinfandel: a favorite in California. It might be even crazier to find out that both of these grapes were originally called Tribidrag in their homeland of Croatia.
What is the difference between Primitivo and Zinfandel?
In general, California winemakers allow Zinfandel to ripen with higher sugar levels and alcohol content giving the wine a more smooth and sweet style. On the other hand, Primitivo ripens under the hot Italian sun, creating the heartier, less fruity and less sweet version of its California counterpart.
Is Zinfandel Italian?
Zinfandel is a grape primarily grown in California. Primitivo is a grape primarily grown in Italy. But these grapes are actually the same. And even more, Primitivo and Zinfandel were never the original names for this grape.
What wine is Puglia known for?
WHITE WINE Though Puglia is most known for red wines that make up the majority of production in the area, one cannot ignore the beautiful white wines coming from the region as well. The hot and dry climate of Puglia produces crisp dry white wines made for easy drinking blends.
What is Puglia wine?
Puglia is a major producer of both wine grapes and table grapes. Its name comes from a-pulvia, or “lack of rain” in Roman. The terroir is influenced by a sunny, warm Mediterranean climate with breezes from the Adriatic sea and fertile soil rich in limestone.
What is Negroamaro wine?
About Negroamaro. Negroamaro is a dark-skinned grape best known in the Puglia region in southern Italy. The wines from this grape tend to show a deep ruby-red color in youth, graduating to richer, darker red after a couple of years.
What is the Italian equivalent of Zinfandel?
Primitivo
60,000 Acres – Puglia – Primitivo is Italy’s name for Zinfandel (which is actually a Croatian grape called Tribidrag!) and Negroamaro grows alongside it in Southern Italy. These sweet tasting fruity and lighter bodied Italian wines often exhibit strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, and leather notes.
Is Zinfandel an Italian varietal?
Is Zinfandel a white or red wine?
red wine
Zinfandel is a red wine grape variety that is the second most planted red grape in California. The grape makes robust, aromatic, juicy wines that are high in alcohol.
Is Puglia red wine?
Most Puglia wine is red, full-bodied and will pair well with a wide variety of foods. Producers in Puglia have focused on making great red wines and local grapes like Negroamaro, Primitivo, and Bombino Nero make for delicious drinking.