{"id":16434,"date":"2022-07-04T11:48:18","date_gmt":"2022-07-04T09:48:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sanmarzano.wine\/?page_id=16434"},"modified":"2023-04-06T15:21:59","modified_gmt":"2023-04-06T13:21:59","slug":"the-vine-grapes-and-primitivo-wines","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sanmarzano.wine\/en\/grapes-and-wines\/the-vine-grapes-and-primitivo-wines\/","title":{"rendered":"The vine, grapes and Primitivo wines"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1648820764029{margin-top: 20px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}” el_class=”padding-sezione-wiki”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”52px”][vc_custom_heading text=”The vine, grapes and Primitivo wines” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:40px|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Playfair%20Display%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1680787059785{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}” el_class=”titolo-prodotto”][vc_separator color=”black” align=”align_left” border_width=”3″ el_width=”40″ css=”.vc_custom_1611135889012{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text]After recounting the history of Primitivo, this article explores this extraordinary grape variety in its journey from the plant to the winemaking process, describing the characteristics of the alberello<\/em> vines, grapes and Primitivo wines. First of all, it is good to remember that Primitivo germinates rather late. In the Manduria stronghold, this phenological phase occurs roughly during the first ten days of April, while ripening takes place between the end of August and the first week of September.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” css=”.vc_custom_1648730566380{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column css_animation=”bounceInLeft” width=”1\/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1656928174845{background-image: url(https:\/\/sanmarzano.wine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/sanmarzano-alberello.jpg?id=13554) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}” el_class=”altezza-immagine-box-wiki”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1621518331018{background-color: #eeeef0 !important;}” el_class=”colonna-caratteristiche”][vc_row_inner el_id=”the-alberello”][vc_column_inner css=”.vc_custom_1621517330589{padding-left: 5% !important;}”][vc_empty_space height=”30px”][vc_custom_heading text=”The alberello training system” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1680784861415{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}” el_class=”h2-title-sezione-vitigno”][vc_separator color=”black” align=”align_left” border_width=”3″ el_width=”10″ css=”.vc_custom_1648029624406{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text el_id=”testo-pk” css=”.vc_custom_1680783540497{padding-right: 10% !important;}”]The traditional form of cultivation is the alberello, a legacy of Greek colonists typical of Mediterranean culture. This cultivation has defied time and in the oldest examples takes the form of a twisted living wooden sculpture. The grapes ripened on these generally old and unproductive vines are of the highest quality, loaded with extract, and are the excellence of the production that we have been trying to protect in recent decades.
\nIn fact, bush-trained vines have very high management costs, yields are very low, operations in the vineyard cannot be managed mechanically, and there is no alternative to mere labour. This is why over the years they have unfortunately been supplanted by vertical, espalier forms of cultivation, which reduce the economic impact on production but do not guarantee the same fruit as they dilute the strength and body of traditional bush-trained Primitivo.
\nAt San Marzano, the products that most express the opulence typical of wines made from bush-trained grapes are Sessantanni Primitivo di Manduria DOP<\/u><\/a>, the iconic wine and symbol of the company, and Anniversario 62 Primitivo di Manduria DOP Riserva<\/u><\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”50px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1648819609506{margin-top: 40px !important;margin-bottom: 40px !important;}” el_class=”padding-sezione-wiki”][vc_column][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″ offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-0 vc_col-lg-12 vc_col-md-offset-0 vc_col-md-12 vc_col-sm-offset-0″ el_id=”the-primitivo-bunch-of-grapes”][vc_custom_heading text=”The Primitivo bunch of grapes” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”h2-title-sezione-vitigno” css=”.vc_custom_1680783554890{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_separator color=”black” align=”align_left” border_width=”3″ el_width=”10″ css=”.vc_custom_1648029624406{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text]The Primitivo bunches are medium-small, not very compact. The skin is dark blue, pruinose, particularly thin and delicate. This is a characteristic that winegrowers pay a lot of attention to because, while in general Primitivo is naturally a plant that is rather resistant to mould or other common alterations, the fact that the skin is thin can pose a risk in the event of rain before full ripening. However, being an early variety, it can be harvested before the autumn rains, which, on the Ionian-Salentine coast, normally take a long time to arrive.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, the positive side of the thin skin is the natural propensity to wither, which, thanks to the dry and sunny climate even in the early part of autumn, means that the bunches can be left on the vine to bask in the sun, allowing a slight over-ripening or, in special cases, a late harvest. This practice, traditionally widespread in the Manduria area, gave rise to what is now recognised as the first DOCG in Puglia, namely the Primitivo di Manduria DOCG dolce naturale, established in 2010 precisely to protect this typicality that represents the true archetype of Primitivo.<\/p>\n

11 Filari Primitivo di Manduria DOCG dolce naturale<\/u><\/a> is San Marzano’s interpretation of this unique and unrepeatable type. It\u2019s our red gem in a universe of sweet wines.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_images_carousel images=”13551,13575″ img_size=”full” onclick=”link_no” speed=”” slides_per_view=”2″ hide_pagination_control=”yes” hide_prev_next_buttons=”yes”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1648819616784{margin-top: 40px !important;margin-bottom: 40px !important;}” el_class=”padding-sezione-wiki”][vc_column width=”2\/3″ offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-0 vc_col-lg-12 vc_col-md-offset-0 vc_col-md-12 vc_col-sm-offset-0″ el_id=”primitivo-wines”][vc_custom_heading text=”Primitivo wines” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”h2-title-sezione-vitigno” css=”.vc_custom_1680783631154{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_separator color=”black” align=”align_left” border_width=”3″ el_width=”10″ css=”.vc_custom_1648029624406{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text]With its past as a blending wine now almost completely behind it, Primitivo has, since the 1990s, discovered itself to be a decidedly versatile variety. Beyond the more traditional expressions, i.e. full-bodied and structured reds, the grape variety can be declined also in interesting ros\u00e9 wines, another important chapter of Apulian oenology to be explored<\/u><\/a>, in dessert reds, such as the aforementioned Primitivo di Manduria DOCG dolce naturale, in younger and easier-drinking reds<\/u><\/a>. Nowadays, we can also observe their use in sparkling wine bases, which, together with ros\u00e9 wines, represent the latest interesting growing trend, if we want to be fashionable, which imposes at the production level, both in the cellar and in the vineyard, particular attention to preserving acidity, an important component for the balance and longevity of wines.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1648819651863{margin-top: 40px !important;margin-bottom: 40px !important;}” el_class=”padding-sezione-wiki”][vc_column width=”2\/3″ offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-0 vc_col-lg-12 vc_col-md-offset-0 vc_col-md-12 vc_col-sm-offset-0″ el_id=”general-organoleptic-characteristics-the-view”][vc_empty_space][vc_custom_heading text=”General organoleptic characteristics – The view” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”h2-title-sezione-vitigno” css=”.vc_custom_1680783821322{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_separator color=”black” align=”align_left” border_width=”3″ el_width=”10″ css=”.vc_custom_1648029624406{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text]The organoleptic profile of Primitivo vinified in red is, in general, characterised by a ruby colour tending towards garnet\/orange as it ages. This is a colour characteristic peculiar to grape varieties with low anthocyanins (the polyphenols responsible for the colour of red wines), which should not, however, be mistakenly associated with premature decay of the wine, but rather with a varietal peculiarity.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1648819622674{margin-top: 40px !important;margin-bottom: 40px !important;}” el_class=”padding-sezione-wiki”][vc_column width=”2\/3″ offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-0 vc_col-lg-12 vc_col-md-offset-0 vc_col-md-12 vc_col-sm-offset-0″ el_id=”general-organoleptic-characteristics-sense-and-taste”][vc_empty_space][vc_custom_heading text=”General organoleptic characteristics – Sense and taste” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”h2-title-sezione-vitigno” css=”.vc_custom_1680785000238{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_separator color=”black” align=”align_left” border_width=”3″ el_width=”10″ css=”.vc_custom_1648029624406{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text]The bouquet of Primitivo is unmistakably studded with multiple fruity hints that can be traced back to red fruit, from fragrant to very ripe, depending on the type of product and ageing. This \u201ctrademark\u201d of Primitivo gives undisputed pleasantness to these wines, which are clearly enriched with more spicy and\/or toasted notes when aged in wood. This is where the production philosophies of the wineries and the winemakers’ interpretations of the raw material and the terroir come into play.<\/p>\n

On the palate, the Primitivo is pleasant and soft, thanks to tannins that are never impetuous or aggressive, although well present. A Primitivo can be good and pleasant even in its early youth, it can leave the cellars quickly, but at the same time, it can be made into wines of great depth and conservation to age in the cellar.<\/p>\n

These characteristics mean that, apart from the regional pairing, a passepartout<\/em> that takes away the embarrassment of choice at the table, the latest frontier in pairing is Asian cuisine, spicy and tendentially piquant, which is softened by the velvety smoothness of Primitivo.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1648819629168{margin-top: 40px !important;margin-bottom: 40px !important;}” el_class=”padding-sezione-wiki”][vc_column width=”2\/3″ offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-0 vc_col-lg-12 vc_col-md-offset-0 vc_col-md-12 vc_col-sm-offset-0″ el_id=”grappa-of-primitivo”][vc_empty_space][vc_custom_heading text=”Primitivo Grappa?” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”h2-title-sezione-vitigno” css=”.vc_custom_1680784024402{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_separator color=”black” align=”align_left” border_width=”3″ el_width=”10″ css=”.vc_custom_1648029624406{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text]Perhaps not everyone knows that Primitivo marc is also used to produce grappa. Like the wine, it is a product that impresses with its smoothness, which is also the result of the characteristic roundness of the grape variety. Sessantanni Grappa di Primitivo, produced from the pomace of Sessantanni<\/u><\/a> is San Marzano’s proposal that completes the interpretation of this grape variety.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content” el_class=”padding-sezione-wiki”][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”13559″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row el_class=”padding-sezione-wiki”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”42px”][vc_column_text el_class=”testo-bibliografia-sitografia”]Bibliography and sitography: Primitivo di Puglia by Giuseppe Baldassarre (INPUT editions); Dal ‘Merum’ al Primitivo di Manduria by Gianni Iacovelli, Bianca Tragni, Pietro Gargano (Filo Editore); La Stirpe del Vino by Attilio Scienza and Serena Imazio (Sperling & Kupfer); www.quattrocalici.it<\/u><\/a> .<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_row_inner el_class=”index-sezione-wiki”][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text el_class=”indice-singolo-articolo-wiki”]<\/p>\n