Apulia wine region

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Vineyards in Apulia. Italia 2010 - Perrini vineyards in Puglia.jpg
Vineyards in Apulia.

The Apulia wine region is located in southern Italy, in proximity to the Adriatic Sea. The area is home to several vineyards and types of wine. The region is notable in Italy for its large wine production and amount of DOC, IGT and DOCG wines manufactured there. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

History

The cultivation of grapes in Apulia is generally considered to have started before the emergence of Phoenicia, possibly prior to 2000 BCE. The Phoenicians imported new varieties of grapes and improved existing methods of wine-making, which continued to evolve in Ancient Greece, particularly in the Magna Graecia. [1] [2] [4] Wines produced in Apulia were highly valued in Ancient Roman society. An account by Pliny the Elder [ which? ] referenced certain varieties of wine grapes, including Malvasia Nera, Negroamaro and Uva di Troia. Historically, the commune of Manduria was notably described as being "viticulosa", meaning "full of vineyards". [2]

Following the Fall of the Western Roman Empire, wine production in the region was temporarily reduced, and monasteries took over the cultivation of vineyards. During the 13th century, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II ordered an increase in vineyard production and the import of new types of grapes from near Campania.

During the 19th century, a significant amount of wine made in Apulia was exported to the rest of Europe, particularly France. A Phylloxera infestation in Apulia in the early 1900s caused another decrease in wine production, which was resolved as vintners grafted locally-grown grapes, such as Negroamaro and Primitivo, on American rootstocks. [1] [2] [4]

Geography and climate

Apulia has about 89,000 to 105,000 ha of vineyards, which accounts for 10–11% of Italy's total vineyard surface area. [3] [4] The region's landscape is predominantly flat, excepted some hills, and is near to the coast. The soil type in the region ranges from clay to rocky. [1] [2] [4]

Apulia has a Mediterranean climate, characterised by hot, dry summers, and mild, wet winters. The region generally receives intense sunlight, which is favourable for grape production.

The main areas of Apulia include:

Grape varieties

Mostly red grapes are produced in the area, in over 80% of vineyards.

Certain grape varieties grow better in specific regions: Negroamaro is mainly grown in the south, Uva di Troia in the north, and Primitivo in central Apulia. [2] [4]

Wines

Apulia produces four kinds of wine: red, white, rosé, dessert. The major wines made in Apulia include:

The rosé wine from Salento is popular in US, Belgium, France, Germany. [1] [2] [4]

Production and economy

There are around 11,000 vineyards and 600 wineries in Apulia. The total amount of wine made in Apulia is roughly equal to 9 million hectoliters yearly, which accounts for 20% of the Italy's total wine production. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Wine tourism

Several wine festivals, such as Cantine Aperte, Calici di Stelle, Cantine Aperte a Natale, include vineyard visits and wine tasting sessions or workshops. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Anna Maria Ciardo (10 November 2022). "La viticoltura e i vini della Puglia". Puglia.info (in Italian). Archived from the original on 16 September 2025. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Redazione Quattrocalici. "Il Vino nella Puglia". Quattrocalici (in Italian). Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 Regione Puglia (2020). "Vitivinicol> o". Filiere Agroalimentari Regione Puglia (in Italian). Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Redazione Tannico. "Vini pugliesi: caratteristiche e denominazioni più importanti". Tannico (in Italian). Retrieved 16 September 2025.
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