Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In Matera, Ferula Viaggi is an excellent agency offering food-themed tours and tastings, where you can,
for example, see mozzarella being made and taste local wines.
Puglia & Basilicata
The different characteristics of these regions' wines reflect their diverse topography and
terroir. In Puglia, there are vast, flat acreages of vines, while Basilicata's vineyards tend to
be steep and volcanic.
It's the Pugliese reds that gain most plaudits. The main grapes grown are the Primitivo
(a clone of the Zindanfel grape), Negroamaro, Nero di Troia and Malvasia. The best Prim-
itivi are found around Manduria, while Negroamaro reaches its peak in the Salento, partic-
ularly around Salice, Guagnano and Copertino. The two grapes are often blended to derive
the best from the sweetness of Primitivo and the slightly bitter, wilder edge of
Negroamaro.
Almost all Puglia reds work perfectly with pasta, pizza, meats and cheeses. Puglia
whites have less cachet; however, those grown on the Murge, particularly Locorotondo
and Martina, are good, clean, fresh-tasting wines, while those from Gravina are a little
weightier. They are all excellent with fish.
In Basilicata, the red wine of choice is made from the Aglianico grape, the best being
produced in the Vulture region. It is the volcanic terroir that makes these wines so unique
and splendid. Basilicata, like Puglia, has seen a renaissance in recent years with much in-
ward investment, such as that of oenologist Donato d'Angelo at his eponymous winery at
Rionero in Vulture.
Although some producers find these official Italian classifications unduly costly and creatively constrain-
ing, the DOCG
(Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita)
and DOC
(Denominazione di Origine Controllata)
designa-
tions are awarded to wines that meet regional quality-control standards.
Sicily
Sicily is the second-largest wine-producing region in Italy, yet few Sicilian wines are well
known beyond the island.
The most common varietal is Nero d'Avola, a robust red similar to Syrah or Shiraz.
Vintages are produced by numerous Sicilian wineries, including Planeta, which has four
estates around the island; Donnafugata in Western Sicily; Azienda Agricola COS near
