The scent of ripe cherries and possibly even the sweet glacé cherries in this wine give this wine a lovely light fruity style and tastes well above its modest price.

When you think of Puglia (Apulia) right down in the heel of Italy, it brings to mind rambling farms, old country houses and beautiful beaches with fine white sand and clear blue sea: this delightful region in the south of Italy has long been a holiday destination for people from all over the world.

Renowned for its history and its extraordinary landscapes, Puglia is, however, also a region with a great cuisine and a producer of notable wines, especially in Murgia, the Valle d’Itria and Salento, where one of the oldest Italian vines is cultivated, Negroamaro.

The grapes have a fragile skin but juicy pulp and grow well in a hot, dry climate. They are used prevalently in the production of rosé wines, usually in combination with other grape varieties.

Negroamaro is most commonly combined with the Sangiovese, Malvasia Nera or Montepulciano grape. Other mixes are not uncommon however, for example in Canti’s Negroamaro-Zinfandel I.G.T Puglia the Pugliese grape finds a great “ally” in the local variety, Primitivo. The result is a more complex product, slightly spicy, full-bodied but not overly structured, perfect as an accompaniment to vegetables or strong cheese.
Try it with traditional Italian friselle biscuits, with tomatoes and oil served on a bread base, or a plate of pasta with fresh tomato sauce. Alternatively, Italian cacioricotta cheese (in the summer) or seasoned pecorino cheese (in the winter). You’ll discover that the fragrance and flavour of Negroamaro make the traditional dishes from Puglia taste even more special.