Puglia. Produttori di Manduria
The story of Produttori di Manduria begins in 1932 with the creation of cooperative “Consorzio Produttori Vini e Mosti Rossi superiori da taglio per la zona di Manduria” which had a single goal in mind – to create a benchmark for wines made from Primitivo.
Produttori di Manduria is located in Puglia in the long and narrow region in the south of Italy, also called its “heel”. Primitivo found there its ideal and unique habitat. Manduria is located in its southern part of the region and this small area, kissed by the sun and the sea, is where the Primitivo di Manduria DOC appellation was born. Primitivo grape, widely cultivated here, is a black berried grape that ripens earlier than the others (from the Latin primativus, or “early”). It is an ancient vine of Croatian origins and a close relative of the Californian Zinfandel.
The consortium owns around 900 hectares of vines and believes strongly that great wines are first and foremost made in the field. More than a half of the holdings are taken by Primitivo. Another substantial grape of the south is Negroamaro which comes up to 25% of the holding. The rest is divided between Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malvasia. The vines are trained with the albarello method (bush vines), which is aimed at protecting the grapes from sunburn.
In 2018 Produttori di Manduria received the certification of Sustainable Winery from Equalitas and was among the first eight Italian wineries to get it. This certification means that the winery is committed to a set of internationally recognized sustainability objectives including preserving agricultural biodiversity and natural resources, fair trade practices, high safety standards for employees and equal opportunity employment.
The selection is mostly focused, but not limited to, Primitivo. The labels I have tasted were Lirica, Memoria and Elegia. While Lirica and Memoria are made from vines with an average age of 25 years, the Elegia is made out of vines between 35 and 50 years old. Also the aging is twice as long which gives the wine a noticeably bigger body.
You may find the museum inside very interesting with big trucks and a pack of dispensers selling the freshly pressed wines in 5 litres plastic carboys. The procedure of buying such wines resembles fuelling up, and you can see the price per litre and the total just like at the gas station! The staff is very friendly and comprises exclusively ladies dressed in black.
Psst: One of the basic labels from Produttori di Mandruria “LIRICA” Primitivo di Manduria DOC is highly praised and received much recognition:
91/100 Editors’ Choice – Wine Enthusiast
Top 100 wines of 2020 – Wine Enthusiast
3/3 Red Glasses – Gambero Rosso
Gold Medal – Mundus Vini
Photo credit: Produttori Vini Manduria
It’s 100% Primitivo, bold, juicy, complex yet balanced, with notes of ripe black cherry, leather and cocoa. Surprises with aromas of earth, tobacco and peppery spice, which are well-integrated into a rich cherry jam core on the nose. Very enjoyable wine.
Serving: 16° - 18° C
Aging: minimum 6 months in big barrels of Slavonian oak
Pair it with: barbecued meats, fillet steak with green pepper, crusted roast beef, lamb with roasted potatoes, brisket and roasted sausages.
Where to buy? 64,90 PLN at Darwina
Vivino rating: 3,9 (5 847 opinions)
