Italian wine Primitivo ("Primitivo"): description, reviews

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Italian wine Primitivo refers to dark sweet wines with a fairly high content of alcohol and tannins. This drink is obtained from a grape variety, which is called Primitivo. It can be found both in large supermarkets of the country and in specialized stores. Thanks to its excellent taste and pleasant aroma, this alcoholic drink has won many fans among wine lovers.

Origin story

The Primitivo grape variety is related to the Croatian variety Plavac Mali. It was bred in the middle of the eighteenth century by the abbot of the monastery Francesco Indellicati. It was he who gave the name to the grape. Translated from Italian, this word means "first". For quite a long time, wine materials from the Primitivo variety were used only to enhance the color and taste of other wines. Wine from this variety has become an independent brand relatively recently.

Only thanks to modern technology, it was possible to reveal the real taste and aroma of an alcoholic drink made from this juicy and fragrant grape. On theToday, rosé, sweet and red Primitivo wines are produced, known all over the world.

Geography of wine

The grape variety was discovered on the border with Croatia. As already mentioned, it has a connection with the Plavac variety. In Italy, there are two areas that are commercially engaged in the cultivation of Primitivo. These are Manduria and the province of Bari. Since 1970, the planting area has gradually decreased. For example, if in the seventies more than forty-seven thousand hectares were planted, then in 2000 the area decreased to eight thousand.

Remarkable is the fact that at the beginning of the nineteenth century the Italian variety was introduced to America, but only under a different name. He was so liked by the inhabitants of the United States that he immediately received the title of "national American grape". Only through painstaking research has it been proven that the American variety Zinfandel is the same Italian Primitivo.

Grape variety

This is a fairly early maturing variety. The first juicy bunches ripen in early August and continue to ripen until mid-September. Primitivo wine from this grape is extremely rich, with a thick black color and aroma of wild berries. Wine connoisseurs find in Primitivo the taste and aroma of raspberries, cloves and cherries. This is a real sweet fortified wine made in an unusual peasant style.

The berries contain quite a lot of sugar, the amount of which sometimes reaches thirty percent. Thanks to this quality, when adding yeast, you can get a drink with a strength of seventeen degrees. The fruits are medium-sized and have a dark purple, almost black tint. Due to the fact that the berries have short petioles, they are quite densely packed on the clusters.

Among the shortcomings of this variety, a tendency to peas is noted. Also, due to the high density of fit, overripe berries begin to rot, while one-fourth of the bunch remains green. This uneven maturation is extremely inconvenient for harvesters and growers.

Chemical composition of berries

The fruits of this variety contain a huge amount of sugar, tannins and vitamins. Grapes slow down the aging process, help to cope with colds and restore performance in case of loss of strength. In addition, the juice of berries prevents the formation of blood clots, thereby reducing the risk of stroke or heart attack. It is also used to prevent constipation. After all, grapes can start even the laziest intestines.

Juice of ripe berries perfectly heals the liver and protects the body from infection. This property is possessed primarily by dark grape varieties, to which Primitivo belongs. Scientists have noticed the following feature: the darker the grape, the more antioxidants it contains.

The benefits and harms of red wine

Hippocrates wrote about its useful properties. The famous healer advised the use of wine as a prevention of cancer and heart disease. In his opinion,rich red wine reduces the risk of migraine attacks.

At the same time, people who abuse red wine very often suffer from hypertension and depression. Among the suicides, oddly enough, there were a lot of fans of red wine.

Wines of Puglia

This rather hot and arid region is washed by the seas on both sides. The peculiar climate is the best suited for growing grapes. Since ancient times, Puglia has been considered a grape paradise. Vineyards have been cultivated here since Roman times. Today, more than seventy percent of the country's wine is produced in Puglia.

Perhaps Primitivo is the most famous and key variety. Primitivo wine from Italy was the first to receive the DC category back in 1969. For this grape in Puglia, lands rich in clay and limestone are allotted. In addition to Primitivo, popular varieties such as Negroamaro and Aleatico are grown in Puglia.

Taste and aroma

Red wine Primitivo is characterized by a rather mild taste and fruity aroma. It captures light notes of vanilla, plum, cherry and blackberry. This wine is usually served with meat dishes, sauce, cheese and pasta. Price and quality depend both on the method of aging and on its duration. Thus, the price of the drink is formed. One of the most expensive is the red semi-dry wine Primitivo Feudi di San Marzano, and the more affordable is Felline.

Red semi-dry

In the production of wines, only one grape variety is most often used - Primitivo. These alcoholic drinks have aromas of wild berries, black currants, jam, cherries, nutmegs and cocoa. They have a rather fresh aftertaste with a velvety and voluminous texture and pleasant sweet notes.

Dry red wine Primonero Li Veli, in addition to the main used Primitivo grape variety, also contains the Negroamaro variety. Translated "negroamaro" means "black and bitter". It perfectly complements the sweet "Primitivo" and gives it the necessary balance of taste. The semi-dry red wine Primitivo Feudi di San Marzano is diluted with a fairly well-known Merlot variety, widely used in the preparation of French wines.

In a word, producers skillfully complement the base, consisting of Primitivo, with other grape varieties and get new great drinks.

Wine storage

It is kept mainly in basements with the most convenient storage conditions. First of all, the air temperature should not exceed fifteen degrees and be below ten. The drink is aged for at least 24 months. After the end of the recommended period, the wine acquires a ruby hue, which eventually turns into a rich purple. It has an aroma of tobacco and wild berries. Drink bottles are held exclusively at an angle in a horizontal position.

Reviews

In their reviews, buyers often praise Primitivo wine and recommend it touse. According to the majority, the taste and rather low price can be attributed to the advantages of this product. In the supermarket, the popular red dry wine Messer del Fauno Primitivo Puglia can be purchased for 350 rubles. It has a rich cherry hue with slight purple tints. Judging by consumer reviews, notes of cappuccino, vanilla and sweet pastries are felt among the aromas of wine. The drink is quite sweet, with a slight aftertaste. It is advised to use it with meat dishes or light cheese snacks.

Epicuro Primitivo Manduria has a slightly sour taste and rich red color. According to users, "Primitivo di Manduria" is quite strong, so it should be consumed only chilled. The wine "Il Poggio e Miranzana" is rather harsh and a bit tasteless. Due to too much tannin, a sour taste is felt and berries are practically not felt. In short, this type of wine is not particularly liked by customers.

Before drinking wine from Italy, users are advised to hold it open for a while. After that, the drink is poured into a glass and the aroma of the bouquet is inhaled. Someone compares its smell with flowers, and someone with fruits. Almost all buyers note the surprisingly pleasant aroma of Primitivo di manduria, while its taste is criticized. Sometimes you can read opinions that the price for such a product is somewhat overpriced, and semi-dry red wine is not worth the money. However, as they say, how many people have so many opinions.

Most reviews are generally positive. Only a small part of buyers was dissatisfied with the purchase of wine. This suggests that Primitivo red wines are a worthy product, which is not in vain popular among fans of an alcoholic drink made from grapes.