Many regions of the world produce lovely “pink” rosé wine, but an area getting more attention now is the Puglia region of Southern Italy. Nestled along the Adriatic Ocean in the “boot heel” of Italy, Puglia – also called Apulia – and pronounced “pulia,” is producing rosé wines from their native grapes. However, in Italy, the term for rosé wine is “rosato.”
What Types of Grapes Go Into Puglia Rosé Wine?
Rosé wines are usually made by pressing red grapes early and letting the juice sit on the skin for a few hours before it achieves the desired “pink” color. Then the pink juice is fermented into wine in a very similar fashion as white wines are made. They age for a few months in stainless steel tanks and then are often bottled young and released in January and February to be enjoyed throughout the year.
The most common red grapes used to make Rosé are Grenache, Syrah, and Pinot Noir, but in Puglia, they are using their native Primitivo, Negramaro and Bombino Nero grapes, amongst many others. For more information on how Rosé is made in Puglia, click HERE.
Puglia in Rosé Association Spreads the Good News
Caterina Baldini is the president and co-founder of the Puglia in Rosé Association. Their purpose is spreading and boosting the good news about Puglian Rosè Wines from Southern Italy. To this end, they have developed a touristic and educational web portal. It highlights the beauty of Southern Italy, and the wineries, farms, and restaurants that are producing Puglian products.
Furthermore, 2020 appears to be a positive harvest year in Puglia. According to Lucia Nettis, Director in Chief of the Puglia in Rosé Association, “The 2020 grape harvest has been great in Puglia. We registered a lower production but a better quality compared to last year.”
Puglian Rosé Fashionable During COVID Lockdown
Furthermore, despite the COVID lockdown, rosé wine in Puglia has been the only style of wine to experience increased growth in 2020. “It’s fashionable,” says Nettis, “and producers nowadays are starting to drink it more frequently. In fact, 70% of those who produced rosé in 2019 have already sold out. Therefore, winemakers are rushing now to finish the 2020 harvest to be able to have Puglian rosé wine available at Christmas. They are also starting to produce more sparkling rosé wines.”
To find rosé wine from Puglia, check out your local wine shops or shop online.
