Primitivo di Manduria DOC

🇮🇹 Italy

DOC

DOC 1974 - Zinfandel's Italian homeland (DNA proven 1993/2001), 3,140ha, highest minimum alcohol in Italy (13.5%), ancient alberello bush vines, terra rossa soils

Region profile

History

Primitivo isolated late 1700s by Canon Francesco Filippo Indellicati in Gioia del Colle. Spread to Manduria (Ionian coast). Late 1800s: Countess Sabini di Altamura brought Primitivo cuttings to Manduria. 1891: Don Menotti Schiavoni created first labelled bottle. 1967: UC Davis Austin Goheen visited Italy, noticed Primitivo tasted like Zinfandel. 1974: DOC established. 1993: DNA proof. 2001: Croatian origin discovered.

Climate
Hot Mediterranean; Salento peninsula between Taranto and Brindisi provinces; flat coastal terrain with ancient bush vines; Ionian Sea maritime influence; terra rossa (iron-rich red) soils over limestone; Sava area considered finest cru; drought-tolerant alberello training essential
Signature wines
Primitivo di Manduria DOC (Gianfranco Fino "Es" - old vines benchmark; San Marzano Sessantanni - 60-year-old vines; Produttori di Manduria since 1932; Felline; Morella); deep ruby to purple; blackberry, cherry jam, chocolate, spice; full-bodied, velvety tannins; 13.5-15%+ alcohol
What sets it apart
Zinfandel's Italian homeland (DNA proven 1993 UC Davis); Croatian origin Crljenak/Tribidrag (2001); highest minimum alcohol globally (13.5%); ancient alberello bush vines 60-100+ years; terra rossa iron-rich soils; "Zinfandel tourists" pilgrimage here

Facts

  • DOC 1974 (among oldest Puglia DOCs)
  • 3,140 hectares
  • 18 municipalities Taranto/Brindisi
  • highest minimum alcohol globally (13.5%)
  • maximum yield 9 tonnes/hectare
  • 1993: UC Davis DNA proved Primitivo = Zinfandel (Carole Meredith)
  • 2001: Croatian origin discovered
  • 1891: Don Menotti Schiavoni first labelled "Primitivo di Campo Marino" bottle
  • 1932: Produttori di Manduria cooperative
  • leading producers: Gianfranco Fino (Es), San Marzano (Sessantanni), Produttori di Manduria, Felline, Morella