Puglia

Located in the South of Italy and extending out into the Mediterranean Sea, the Region of Puglia is characterized by the absence of any mountain ranges and by the presence of plateaus and plains. To the exception of the Tavoliere delle Puglie (Apulian Table), the soil is rather arid and barren, and the climate is warm and usually dry.

Recently, producers have undergone a very positive transformation as they now seek to promote the local grapes as varieties capable of producing premium wines. The most important wine-growing areas are Daunia, Barese, Salento and Tarantino for the outstanding red grape varieties of Negro Amaro, Primitivo, Aglianico and Uva di Troia, as well as for the white varieties of Fiano, Falanghina and Verdeca.

The total area covered in vineyards is 102,000 hectares *, among the largest in Italy, and production totals about 5.7 million hectolitres*.

*2007 figures from the “Corriere Vinicolo” (wine news)