• The wine: Manoro Primitivo Puglia IGP
• Type: Primitivo
• Location: Puglia, Italy
• Price: $
• Find it: Boutique bottle stores and online

So now I feel like after a while on the Rose I have gotten on a red wine roll to make up for it, and I’m loving every minute! I have a soft spot for a good red wine so I feel I am constantly struggling to counteract the skew in my wine reviews. The good thing is that we are coming into summer in Brisbane which means I am starting to seek out wines that will be refreshing rather than warming. So watch this space!

The reason I am reviewing this wine is that it is something different. Although it is an Italian wine, it is not from Tuscany. It is also a variety that isn’t well known either, but happens to be one of my favourites! Because it isn’t well known, most people would probably pass it in the bottle shop because why risk buying a bottle you don’t know if you’ll like? So I wanted to review this wine so that the next time you see one in the bottle shop, you might feel a bit more comfortable giving it a go. Although, it is Italian, so my rule of thumb is to try it regardless!

One of the best things to come out of Puglia…Primitivo

The wine is the Manoro Primitivo Puglia IGP. It is from Puglia which is at the bottom of Italy, fondly known as the heel of the boot. I actually went there for a week last year and whilst I can’t say it was my favourite place (we did go to Tuscany so what do you expect), this region is becoming well-known as a foodie destination. It is a large region with many different facets to it, so every area you explore there is something different, and I think this is why it has become so popular!

Puglia is also becoming really popular for its wine, and the key grape varietal of the region is the Primitivo. I have been in love with Primitivo for quite some time, but I think my love affair became stronger when I realised it was the Italian version of my favourite American grape: Zinfandel. It is really hard to find Zinfandel in Australia that isn’t over $50, but it was something I absolutely loved when we were in the US. When I was told that Primitivo was the same grape, I knew why I loved it so much!

Puglia is where the Primitivo grapes flourish in Italy, so you know anything from this region is going to be good. This is why Puglia is so well-known for it, and the best part is you can get a wine like a Zinfandel for a much better price. Plus it is from Italy, so why not?

Why I loved it

This wine was everything I love in a good Primitivo and more. Firstly, the price was great at under $20 a bottle. Although you’ll find this wine in more boutique bottle stores, this is great value given that it is an authentic Italian wine.

Secondly, the flavour was absolutely divine. Primitivo has a slight sweetness to it that cuts through the richness of the red. I think what this does is make the wine lighter, but not so light that it becomes a Pinot. This wine had a great balance of flavours which meant that the wine wasn’t too rich, nor too sweet. Sometimes the Primitivo that comes out of Puglia can be a bit more on the sweet, high alcohol side so it can be tannic, but whilst this wine was heavier than Primitivo usually is, it didn’t pack too much acidity.

What to pair it with

We drank this wine whilst playing board games with friends. To be honest, though I think it would be more enjoyable to have with a meal. The flavours and heaviness of the taste meant that it was suited to having with food.

I would pair this with a slow roasted meat or steak for full enjoyment. However, it would also go well with meat-based pasta such as a bolognese. A lot of cuisine from Puglia is meats and vegetables if they’re not having seafood, so when drinking like the Puglians, eat like them too!

Final verdict

This wine was one of the best Primitivos that I’ve had out of Puglia so far. They can be hard to source, but when you find a good one, it is like liquid gold. It’s unfortunate that my partner bought this when we were down in Byron Bay, because I haven’t been able to find it in the bottle shops near our house in Brisbane. Hopefully, I can find some soon so I can enjoy it again!

If you see a Primitivo at the bottle shop, definitely give it a try. It is so different to other varieties and absolutely delicious. It can be good to branch out and try other wines, especially those that aren’t common amongst Australian producers. If you know of any I should be trying out, let me know in the comments below!