05/08/2023 | News release | Distributed by Public on 05/08/2023 13:06
Have you ever tasted Puglian wine? This prominent wine-producing region is a wonderful destination for romantics, history buffs and amateur sommeliers alike.
While Puglian tourism has been on the rise in recent years, much of the region is still off the main tourist track. Here's why you need to visit.
Puglia -Apulia in English - is the long, thin region that makes up the southeastern "heel" of the Italian peninsula's "boot." It's home to quaint villages, picturesque farms and breathtaking castles - and, of course, wine.
Puglia's warm climate and fertile soil make the region perfect for growing wine grapes, which is why it's tied with Sicily for the second-largest wine-producing region in Italy. It's also the country's top olive oil region, contributing nearly 40% of Italy's total production. It's also the birthplace of burrata, a soft cheese made from mozzarella and cream.
Puglia is also a region that beautifully blends old and new. Throughout the region, you'll find idyllic vineyards, old churches and ancient ruins from generations past. And while it used to have a reputation for producing low-end bulk wine, up-and-coming independent wineries are transforming the region with innovative, artisanal blends.
Puglia's history as a winemaking region stretches back almost three millennia to when the Greeks colonized the region in the eighth century B.C. These early occupants brought with them grapevines from across the Adriatic Sea. Some of these varieties still grow in Puglia today, such as Negroamaro and Nero di Troia.
Puglia experienced a viticultural boom after the Romans conquered the region in the third century B.C. The construction of the Via Appia, which connected the Puglian colonies of Taranto and Venosa to Rome, allowed local winemakers to transport their products throughout the empire.
Wine culture continued to flourish in the region until the 1800s, when disaster struck.
In the early 1860s, French grapevines began to wither and die for seemingly no reason. The cause?
Phylloxera, a tiny bug that eats the roots of grapevines, had somehow made its way across the sea from North America to the European continent. And it wreaked havoc on European viticulture.
The epidemic lasted until the late 1880s, when researchers discovered they could stop the phylloxera from feeding by grafting roots from resistant North American grapevines onto European plants.
The resurrection of Italian wine post-outbreak began in Salento, a town in southern Puglia. For the first time, Puglian wine was bottled and commercialized locally rather than sold off to other winemaking regions. These wines were some of the first in the country to be sold after the epidemic.
After the destruction of the World Wars, northern Italy received significant investments in reconstruction. The southern part of the country suffered from widespread poverty, and many young people left to seek better opportunities elsewhere.
Things finally began turning around in the mid-1980s, when local entrepreneurs poured money and effort into transforming Puglia's tourism industry. Today, Puglian winemakers are working to reinvent the region as a top destination for artisanal wines and vibrant culture.
For decades, Puglia was part of "Europe's cellar" - after selling its best grapes to other Italian winemaking regions, Puglia would be left with whatever was at the bottom of the barrel. As a bulk wine producer, the region developed a reputation for producing lots of low-quality wine.
But modern Puglian winemakers are creating wines that rival those of better-known winemaking regions, like Veneto and Tuscany.
Puglian wine is known for its full-bodied, fruit-forward red wines, though there are plenty of white and Rosato (rosé) varieties available as well.
The two most popular Puglian red wines are:
Curious about the region's lesser-known offerings? You can find many different types of wine grapes in Puglia, including:
For those who want to experience the Puglian wine scene for themselves, we recommend taking a tour through the vineyards or enjoying a wine pairing session at one of the region's many wineries.
Are you dreaming of sipping Puglian wine by the sea? A romantic tour through the region's sprawling vineyards? When you set sail on one of our ships, you get to choose your own Italian adventure. Our small yachts provide an intimate, personal experience so you can truly enjoy the trip of a lifetime.
Request a brochure or give us a call for more information about booking an Italian cruise.