A Guide to Puglia Wine: Sun-Soaked Reds from Italy's Heel

Puglia is the heel of Italy's boot, a sun-blessed region that is one of southern Italy's most generous wine areas. Mediterranean sun and sea breezes give richly fruited reds at accessible prices, long earning it the name Italy's wine cellar.

What kind of region is Puglia?

Primitivo takes the lead

Puglia's signature dark grape is Primitivo. Born from sun-ripened fruit, it is a red that is rich yet smooth and easy to drink. To learn more about the grape, see What Is Primitivo? too. The region also grows the aromatic Negroamaro.

Puglia's food and wine

Famous for olive oil and handmade pasta, its richly fruited reds pair beautifully with tomato-sauce pasta, braised lamb and beef, and grilled vegetables. On the Japanese table, they suit sukiyaki and nabe dishes too.

From the local table: fave e cicoria

Travel through Puglia, and especially the Salento in the deep south, and one plate turns up on almost every family table: fave e cicoria. Dried fava beans are simmered slowly into a smooth puree and topped with bitter wild chicory (a foraged leafy green) softened in olive oil. The gentle sweetness of the beans set against the green bitterness is a cornerstone of cucina povera (humble country cooking), and the dish is even listed among Puglia's traditional regional foods.

Whenever I (Federico) visited growers in Puglia, this plate was almost always on the lunch table, with a glass of local Primitivo or Negroamaro beside it. The softness of the beans melts into the fruit of the red, and the chicory's gentle bitterness rinses the finish clean. It is not a showy dish, but it is exactly how the land's food and the land's wine lean on each other, the everyday Puglian way to enjoy a glass.

Why Puglia wine is such good value

Thanks to abundant sunshine and wide vineyards, Puglia delivers high quality at accessible prices. You do not need an expensive bottle from a famous appellation to find a satisfying everyday red.

A bottle to start with

A bottle that puts the Puglian sun straight into your glass, Doppio Passo Primitivo. Start here and feel the appeal of southern Italy.

FAQ

Q. What defines Puglia wine?
A. Sun-soaked, generous fruit and great value, led by Primitivo reds.

Q. What food does it suit?
A. Tomato-and-olive dishes, braised meat, and Japanese nabe or sukiyaki.

Q. Is it good for beginners?
A. Yes. Many are soft, easy-drinking reds, a great entry to red wine.