zinfandel
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.

Is Primitivo from Puglia?

The southernmost part of Puglia – the heel of the Italy’s boot – is the main source of Primitivo wines in Italy. The DOC area with the most significant production of Primitivo is Primitivo di Manduria DOC.

Is Primitivo a zinfandel?

Zinfandel (also known as Primitivo) is a variety of black-skinned wine grape. The variety is grown in over 10 percent of California vineyards….Zinfandel.

Zinfandel/Primitivo
Grape (Vitis)
Zinfandel grapes ripening on the vine
SpeciesVitis vinifera
Also calledCrljenak Kaštelanski, Zin, ZPC (more)

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.

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 wine?

Sort of. Before DNA fingerprinting identified Zinfandel as the descendant of a Croatian grape called Crljenak, many people thought Zinfandel originated in Italy. In fact, an Italian grape called Primitivo is genetically identical to Zinfandel, with only minor clonal differences between the two.

What is Primitivo di Manduria?

Primitivo di Manduria is a key red-wine DOC of Italy’s southern Puglia region. Primitivo got its name because it ripens early (the name has nothing to do with the variety or its wines being “primitive”). It shares this quality with Spain’s Tempranillo: temprano means “early” in Spanish.

Is Puglia a wine region?

The Puglian wine region is divided into three subregions: Foggia in the north, Bari and Taranto in the center, and Brindisi and Lecce in the south. After Veneto, Puglia is tied with Sicily as the second biggest wine region in Italy. The Puglia area is mostly home to grape growers, rather than wine producers.

Is merlot an Italian wine?

Merlot is widely grown throughout Italy, probably moreso than is commonly believed. It is the fifth most widely planted grape variety in Italy. The styles of Italian Merlot wines vary considerably from region to region and from producer to producer.