RedLead grape in 12
Negroamaro
The red of the Salento peninsula, the heel of Italy, where it grows as bush vines in heat that would cook most things. Dark, warm and full, with black cherry and dried fig and a bitter twist at the end. The name reads as black and bitter, and both halves are fair. It is usually blended with a little Malvasia Nera, which lifts the perfume.
Worth knowing
Its rosato is the thing to chase. Salento has been making serious pink wine from it far longer than Provence has been fashionable, and the colour is deep enough that people mistake it for a light red.
Where it is allowed15 appellations
Puglia15
- Aleatico di PugliaDOCStill hunting
- AlezioDOClead grapemin 80%Still hunting
- BrindisiDOClead grapemin 70%Still hunting
- CopertinoDOClead grapemin 70%Still hunting
- GalatinaDOClead grapemin 65%Still hunting
- Gioia del ColleDOCStill hunting
- LeveranoDOClead grapeStill hunting
- LizzanoDOClead grape60 to 80%Still hunting
- MatinoDOClead grapemin 70%Still hunting
- NardòDOClead grapemin 80%Still hunting
- Negroamaro di Terra d'OtrantoDOClead grapemin 90%Still hunting
- Rosso di CerignolaDOC15 to 30%Still hunting
- Salice SalentinoDOClead grapemin 75% for rossoStill hunting
- SquinzanoDOClead grapemin 70%Still hunting
- Terra d'OtrantoDOClead grapeStill hunting