Puglia isn't the first place that comes to mind when you think of great Italian wines. Folks just tend to think of Tuscany, or maybe Piedmont, before heading south down the boot. They might be surprised by what they find there. Puglia is home to a wide variety of grape varietals, and today we are going to give you our take on some you may not have tried yet. As the saying goes, "dance with the one that brought you" – and in Puglia, this means going for the classics. The region is home to some of Italy's most famous exports, including Primitivo and Negroamaro. These are all fantastic wines that have their place, but before you leave Puglia, you really must try some of its lesser-known grapes. This region is home to a large number of indigenous varieties, many of which are often overlooked by wine enthusiasts.

Here are a few wines from Puglia you might not have heard about (and what liking them says about you)

Nero di Troia

Nero di Troia is a risky and bold wine. Some people love the cascading shock of flavours, while others might find it too aggressive. If you love Nero di Troia, you have a strong personality and confidence. You love to experience new things and adventure in your life. You'll walk into any room with ease and make friends instantly. Because of its high tannin content, it is often blended with softer varietals, such as Montepulciano, to create a smoother product. On its own, many find Nero di Troia to be a strong and imposing but unrefined wine. When properly aged, however, it can achieve the delicacy and elegance of some Amarones or Barolos. Nero di Troia is not a wine for the faint of heart. It has a bold, strong taste that cannot be easily pinned down to a single aroma or flavour. But if you're an adventurous spirit looking for something with depth and character, and class, it's worth the try.

Verdeca

A lesser-known grape from Italy is the Verdeca. It can produce a remarkable wine, if properly tended. The Verdeca owes its name to the distinctly green hue of its berries ("verde" is Italian for "green"). Indigenous to Puglia, particularly the Itria Valley area of Gravina and the provinces of Taranto and Bari, this happens to be the most widespread white grape variety in the entire region. Bringing together austere and elegant flavours at the same time, Verdeca offers deep reflections into its origins. As well as being a great varietal wine, it has also been used as a base to create other types of wine, such as sweet wines or vermouths. In some areas, this grape is increasingly valued for what it can produce when grown in organic vineyards or those that use sustainable winemaking practices. These wines have a light structure and are fresh, with good fruity flavours. They are ideal with seafood and fish dishes. If you like Verdeca, you are after a light and easy-drinking wine that is crisp and refreshing, you most likely have a bubbly personality, but, on a Saturday, you are more likely to be found sipping a glass of chilled wine on a terrace with a few friends, rather than clubbing the night away.

Malvasia Nera

Black Malvasia vines are found all over Italy and are used to produce a vast array of wines. These reds are less aromatic than their white-skinned sisters, but some are not aromatic at all. There are different types of Malvasia wine in Italy, but those produced in Apulia are mostly still reds. In some cases, black Malvasia is not vinified on its own, but in blends with grape varieties such as Primitivo, to achieve more fragrant aromas and a richer body. Not as flashy or well-marketed as some other wines from Puglia and often associated with the northern regions of Italy, these vintages may well surprise you. When visiting an Apulian winery, it’s easy to ignore the few bottles of Malvasia on the shelf. That would be a mistake. These wines are incredible! The diversity of Black Malvasia wines is such that it is difficult to ascribe them a single character. The complexity of this vine gives it a wild and adventurous side, therefore, if you enjoy it, maybe you have one too!

Bombino Nero

This is one of the least known and most underestimated grapes in Italy and most wine enthusiasts, unless they are expert connoisseurs, haven't heard of it. Bombino Nero is a black grape variety known mostly for its great vigour and productivity, which won it the alternative name of "Buonvino" (Good Wine). It is often used in blends with other grapes, along with Montepulciano and two other important black grape varieties of Puglia: Uva di Troia and Negro Amaro. Varietal wines based on Bombino Nero are relatively rare, but there are some notable examples like Castel del Monte's DOCG bottling. The wine made from the Bombino nero grape variety is ruby red in colour, with an aromatic flavour, a tannic texture, and a full-bodied mouthfeel. It pairs excellently with vegetable soups and stir-fries, fish and white meat - and it makes a spectacular dessert wine. If you are a Bombino Nero type, your motto is likely to be "all good things in moderation".

Ready to taste some new wines from Puglia?

We've talked about a few of the wines you might try on your visit to the region, but there are many others worth sampling. Some of the small vineyards throughout Puglia are just starting to gain traction in the wine world, and heaps of local pride exist in all of them, when it comes to local production. We hope that this will be your introduction to some of the lesser-known wines of Puglia; you'll have a great time discovering what all the fuss is about!

So, the next time you're in the area, remember to try some of its lesser-known wines. You might be surprised by what you discover! Between the food, culture, and heritage, you'll have no problem finding plenty of things to keep you busy!

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