Back to Puglia and two of our favorite wineries. Not only do these winemakers produce gorgeous wine, they also export some of their best bottles to the U.S.
TENUTE EMERA (from Claudio Quarta)
We were treated to the three wines Tenute Eméra exports to the U.S.– a Negroamaro rosé, the Anima di Negroamaro Lizzano, and one of Gary’s favorite wines of the trip, the 2016 Primitivo di Manduria. The palate is “silky smooth perfection with concentrated plum/raisin flavors and a long finish.” The highest compliment, Gary says it is “one of the best examples of what good wine making can do with an otherwise commodity grape.”
1.) Primitivo di Manduria 2016 / $17/bottle / Where to Buy: Sadly, only at Chapel Hill (NC) Wine Company… worth the flight! No shipping/delivery outside of the Research Triangle
2.) Anima di Negroamaro Lizzano 2013 / $26/bottle (we tasted the 2015) / Where to Buy: Berman’s Fine Wines (ordered a half-case for us)
3.) Anima di Negroamaro Salento Rosé / $19/bottle / Where to Buy: Barmy Wines + Liquors, DC
Our last winery visit was also the best. From the setting to the hospitality and, of course the wine, Tenuta Giustini shone brightest. The young, second generation winemaker Salvatore Papadopoli presented nine(!) wines. The good news: we can recommend three that are sold in the U.S. (below) The bad news… Acinore, a gorgeous Primitivo made from 50+ year old vines, is not exported to the U.S. Lisa called it “silky smooth and seductive” and Gary said it displays “great finesse, straddling the old and new world palates.”
1.) Illuminato Fiano IGT (native white grape) / $20/bottle / Where to Buy: Kindred Spirits & Wine, CT
2.) Qvis, 2015 (Negroamaro) / $20/bottle / Where to Buy: West Side Wine + Spirits, CT
(in store only/no shipping)
3.) Qvid, 2017 (Primitivo) / $15/bottle / Where to buy: Western Reserve Wines, OH
You don’t have to fly to the heel of the boot to discover Puglian wine. We encourage our wine-loving readers to stretch a little, go beyond the Barolos and Nebbiolas and try the Puglian wines we discovered on our trip. Once we got home we ordered a case each of Tenute Eméra’s Anima di Negroamaro Lizzano 2013 and Tenuta Giustini’s Qvid. If you find a Puglian wine we haven’t tried, drop us a comment when you find a good one! Throughout the long, cold gray Boston winter we’ll think fondly of Puglia and the crazy beautiful color of the Adriatic.
VinoDuo 