The Best Wines of Puglia: Guide, Terroirs, and Tasting Notes

Which labels represent the pinnacle of Puglian winemaking? Below is a curated selection of 20 of the most iconic wines from the region, complete with tasting notes and the precise location of each producer.

If you are looking to explore these renowned wine regions in complete comfort, contact us to book a private tailor-made wine tour with a personal chauffeur. Whether you are planning a 1, 2, or 3-day itinerary, we take care of all the details, customizing the experience based on your staying location and personal preferences so you can simply relax and enjoy every sip. Plus, if you would like to discover the most historic and ancient wineries of Salento, be sure to read our dedicated guide: Puglia in a Glass.

1. Es 2022 – Gianfranco Fino

• Winery & Location: Gianfranco Fino – Manduria (Taranto)

• Grape Variety: 100% Primitivo | ABV: 16%

• Profile: An undisputed icon of Italian wine. Broad and concentrated, it delivers striking aromas of plum, blackberry jam, cardamom, and dark chocolate. On the palate, it exhibits an imposing structure supported by vigorous tannins and an exceptionally persistent balsamic finish. Crafted from old bush vines (alberello) grown on red soils, it ages for 9 months in barriques.

2. Graticciaia 2019 – Agricole Vallone

• Winery & Location: Agricole Vallone – Lecce (Lecce) / Estate in San Pietro Vernotico (Brindisi)

• Grape Variety: 100% Negroamaro | ABV: 14.5%

• Profile: A magnificent red made from partially dried grapes (appassimento). The nose spans from dark berries to black pepper, complemented by hints of dried violets and forest floor. On the palate, it is enveloping, spicy, and backed by a dense tannic weave. Matured in a combination of stainless steel and oak casks, it offers deep elegance and tension.

3. Duna 2022 – Borgo dei Trulli

• Winery & Location: Borgo dei Trulli – Maruggio (Taranto)

• Grape Variety: 100% Primitivo | ABV: 16%

• Profile: A bold, straightforward Primitivo. Its bouquet features nuances of eucalyptus, cocoa, and Mediterranean scrub. The sip is compact with well-sculpted tannins and an authentic, balsamic, terroir-driven finish. Vinified using whole berries without added sulfites.

4. Gioia del Colle Primitivo '14' 2022 – Polvanera

• Winery & Location: Polvanera – Gioia del Colle (Bari)

• Grape Variety: 100% Primitivo | ABV: 14.5%

• Profile: A fresh, vertical expression of the variety. Crisp red fruit and citrus aromas blend smoothly with floral notes. The palate is lively with bright acidity and an exceptionally clean finish. Aged exclusively in stainless steel and bottle, making it remarkably food-friendly.

5. Ottagono 2015 – Torrevento

• Winery & Location: Torrevento – Corato (Bari)

• Grape Variety: 100% Nero di Troia | ABV: 13.5%

• Profile: A Nero di Troia of rare refinement. It stands out with clear aromas of mulberry, wild fennel, and cherry, enriched by sweet spices. Smooth and harmonious on the palate with polished tannins and a refreshing edge. Aged in concrete and large oak casks.

6. Amativo 2023 – Cantele

• Winery & Location: Cantele – Guagnano (Lecce)

• Blend: 60% Primitivo, 40% Negroamaro | ABV: 14.5%

• Profile: A smooth, persuasive blend from Salento. The nose offers dried plum, black cherry, and hints of tobacco. On the palate, creaminess takes center stage, balanced by a well-measured freshness that invites another sip. Aged for 12 months in barriques.

7. Muro Sant'Angelo Contrada Barbatto 2017 – Tenute Chiaromonte

• Winery & Location: Tenute Chiaromonte – Acquaviva delle Fonti (Bari)

• Grape Variety: 100% Primitivo | ABV: 16.5%

• Profile: Among the top peaks of Primitivo di Gioia del Colle. The bouquet is an interplay of dark spices, wild berries, and undergrowth. Powerful, structured, and long on the palate, featuring a complex tannic profile that continues to evolve.

8. Marpione Primitivo Riserva 2019 – Tenute Viglione

• Winery & Location: Tenute Viglione – Santeramo in Colle (Bari)

• Grape Variety: 100% Primitivo | ABV: 14.5%

• Profile: Elegant and majestic, displaying aromas of dried figs, bramble blackberry, carob, and roasted coffee. Rich and enveloping in the mouth, characterized by sweet tannins and an expansive balsamic trail.

9. Per Lui 2019 – Leone de Castris

• Winery & Location: Leone de Castris – Salice Salentino (Lecce)

• Grape Variety: 100% Negroamaro | ABV: 15%

• Profile: A Salice Salentino Riserva packed with personality. Its aromatic profile combines dark fruits, vanilla, and tobacco. Imposing and flavorful on the palate, stamped with an unmistakable stylistic signature.

10. Kemelios 2019 – Vetrère

• Winery & Location: Vetrère – Taranto (Taranto)

• Blend: Negroamaro, Malvasia Nera | ABV: 14.5%

• Profile: A deep, multifaceted red emitting notes of ripe dark fruits, resin, licorice, and dried figs. Dense mouthfeel with well-worked tannins and superb aging potential enhanced by 14 months in new barriques.

11. Il Falcone 2019 – Rivera

• Winery & Location: Azienda Vinicola Rivera – Andria (Barletta-Andria-Trani)

• Blend: Nero di Troia and other native grape varieties | ABV: 13.5%

• Profile: A milestone in regional winemaking. Morello cherry and spice notes meld into a taut, balanced sip. Finely crafted tannins and a lingering finish make it a benchmark for food pairings.

12. Dionysos 2019 – De Quarto

• Winery & Location: Cantine De Quarto – Lizzano (Taranto)

• Grape Variety: 100% Primitivo | ABV: 14.5%

• Profile: Single-varietal Primitivo from old bush vines vinified strictly in stainless steel. Aromas of wild berries and mulberry with mineral touches. Sleek, clean palate characterized by silky tannins.

13. Brindisi Rosso Susumaniello Oltremé 2021 – Tenute Rubino

• Winery & Location: Tenute Rubino – Brindisi (Brindisi)

• Grape Variety: 100% Susumaniello | ABV: 13.5%

• Profile: A modern, expressive red. Opens on undergrowth notes before revealing blackberry and blueberry. Warm and enveloping on the palate, delivering a pleasant aromatic core and a persistent finish.

14. Passo del Cardinale 2023 – Cantine Paolo Leo

• Winery & Location: Cantine Paolo Leo – San Donaci (Brindisi)

• Grape Variety: 100% Primitivo | ABV: 14%

• Profile: Rich aromas of ripe cherry, blackcurrant, and subtle oak accents. Full, savory, and well-balanced on the palate, featuring soft tannins refined in American barriques and stainless steel.

15. Primitivo 'Old Vines' 2020 – Morella

• Winery & Location: Morella – Manduria (Taranto)

• Grape Variety: 100% Primitivo | ABV: 15.5%

• Profile: An artisanal wine fermented with indigenous yeasts. Intense notes of dark currant mingle with savory, iron-like undertones. Deep, warm, and equipped with a vibrant tannic backbone.

16. Diciotto Primitivo Salento 2021 – Schola Sarmenti

• Winery & Location: Schola Sarmenti – Nardò (Lecce)

• Grape Variety: 100% Primitivo | ABV: 18%

• Profile: A red wine of extraordinary alcoholic concentration and structure. Aromas of cherry jam, cocoa, tobacco, and carob. Dense and velvety on the palate with a remarkably long aromatic persistence.

17. Pezzo Morgana 2022 – Masseria Li Veli

• Winery & Location: Masseria Li Veli – Cellino San Marco (Brindisi)

• Grape Variety: 100% Negroamaro | ABV: 15%

• Profile: Complex bouquet featuring aromas of violet, black pepper, licorice, and dark berries. Full and structured on the palate, enriched by balsamic nuances seamlessly integrated through oak aging.

18. Le More Castel del Monte 2020 – Santa Lucia

• Winery & Location: Azienda Agricola Santa Lucia – Corato (Bari)

• Grape Variety: 100% Nero di Troia | ABV: 14%

• Profile: A sumptuous interpretation of northern Puglian Nero di Troia. Offers aromas of sour cherry, cloves, and wild blackberry. Displays elegance, defined tannic structure, and a fresh finish on the palate.

19. Le Braci 2017 – Severino Garofano

• Winery & Location: Garofano Vigneti e Cantine – Copertino (Lecce)

• Grape Variety: 100% Negroamaro | ABV: 15%

• Profile: Crafted from grapes slightly dried on the vine. Smells of sour cherry, wild strawberry, and white chocolate. Concentrated, soft, and rich in fruit flavors on the palate.

20. Acini Spargoli 2018 – Antico Palmento

• Winery & Location: Antico Palmento – Manduria (Taranto)

• Grape Variety: 100% Primitivo | ABV: 16%

• Profile: A powerful, mineral-driven Primitivo. Bouquet marked by blackberry jam, juniper, and flint. Dense and deep on the sip, closing with a surprisingly salty note.

Grape Varieties and Terroir Map of Puglia

Overview of Essential Puglian Appellations

When discussing the premier wines of Puglia, several world-renowned appellations immediately come to mind, including Primitivo di Manduria DOC, Salice Salentino DOC, Castel del Monte Riserva DOCG, and the celebrated Rosati del Salento.

Let us delve into the foundational grape varieties and unique terroirs that define enological excellence across Puglia.

Principal Grape Varieties

Primitivo

Globally recognized as Zinfandel, Primitivo stands as one of Puglia's crowning achievements, accounting for roughly 14% of the region's overall viticultural output. This red grape produces robust, full-bodied wines renowned for their opulent fruitiness and distinctive spice.

Among the most benchmark designations for this variety are Primitivo di Manduria DOC and Primitivo di Gioia del Colle DOC, representing two of Puglia's most prestigious and historic terroirs. Furthermore, Primitivo is utilized to craft exceptional, vibrant rosé wines.

Negroamaro

Equally fundamental to Puglian winemaking is Negroamaro. Grown extensively across Salento—the southernmost peninsula of Puglia—it serves as the core component of Salice Salentino DOC.

Negroamaro yields deeply concentrated, structured red wines endowed with striking mineral sapidity, accentuated by seductive aromas of fruit preserves and wild berries preserved in spirits. Like Primitivo, Negroamaro is also a primary grape behind many of Italy's finest rosé wines.

Other Native Grape Varieties

Beyond Primitivo and Negroamaro, Puglia boasts a rich tapestry of indigenous grape varieties that highlight its extraordinary biodiversity:

• Le Murge Plateau: Alongside premier red varieties, white grapes such as Verdeca, Minutolo, and Moscato flourish.

• Foggia and Daunia (Tavoliere): Here, Bombino Bianco is cultivated alongside the noble Nero di Troia.

• Brindisi Area: Famous for the native red variety Susumaniello, which produces expressive, deeply fruity wines.

The Terroir of Puglian Wines: Where the Best Bottles Are Born

Ranked as Italy's third-largest wine-producing region, Puglia possesses a territory that is as historically suited to viticulture as it is geographically diverse. The varied soil profiles, coastal breezes, and elevation changes allow for an exceptionally wide array of terroir-driven wines.

• La Capitanata (Northern Puglia): Defined by the Gargano promontory to the east, this area features sandy-limestone soils and a continental climate with harsher winters than the rest of the region. Spanning the Daunia mountains and the Tavoliere plain, it produces refined rosés and reds from Nero di Troia, Montepulciano, and Sangiovese, alongside crisp, immediate white wines from Falanghina, Trebbiano, and Bombino Bianco.

• Le Murge Plateau: Characterized by limestone-clay soils with rich underground aquifers that nourish grapevines during hot summer months. Marked day-to-night temperature swings endow the wines with notable structure and vivid acidity/salinity. Standout appellations include Castel del Monte Nero di Troia DOCG and Primitivo di Gioia del Colle DOC, as well as the unmissable sweet wine Moscato di Trani DOC (made from Moscato Bianco).

• Ionian Coast: A warm Mediterranean climate tempered by marine winds combined with alluvial and sandy-limestone soils equips grapes with exceptional polyphenolic maturity and complex aromas. Here, the early-ripening Primitivo reaches its apex, producing Primitivo di Manduria DOC.

• Salento Peninsula: Puglia's southern tip is famous for its sunny plains of iron-rich red clay-limestone soils (terre rosse), ideal for Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera. The provinces of Brindisi and Lecce also produce distinctive specialties, such as Salice Salentino Aleatico Dolce DOC.

Top Puglian Rosé Wines

Puglian rosés are regarded among the finest in Italy for their aromatic complexity and elegance. Modern Italian rosé history was born in Puglia during World War II with the creation of Five Roses by Leone de Castris (a blend of 90% Negroamaro and 10% Malvasia Nera)—an enduring institution in Italian winemaking.

Renowned Sweet & Dessert Wines

Puglia is home to several top-tier Italian dessert wines, notably those produced from Moscato grapes—such as Moscato di Trani DOC—and Primitivo grapes, as seen in Primitivo di Manduria Dolce Naturale DOCG.

Additionally, remarkable sweet wines are crafted from Aleatico, a semi-aromatic red variety used for Gioia del Colle Aleatico DOC, Salice Salentino Aleatico DOC, and Aleatico di Puglia DOC.

Final Thoughts on Choosing Puglian Wines

Selecting the best wines of Puglia is always a challenging endeavor, as any curated list is inherently subjective and bound by personal taste. This guide simply offers our selection of standout bottles based on our evaluations and experiences.

Ultimately, wine is not meant to be a mere status symbol to parade or show off. Its true purpose is to evoke emotion, to be shared authentically with the people we cherish, and to anchor special, intimate moments in our lives.

For this reason, we warmly encourage you to visit the estates, meet the passionate vintners behind these labels, and experience their unique creations firsthand. That way, you can discover and decide for yourself which bottles deserve a place among your personal favorites.

Thank you for taking the time to read through our guide. Now, it is time to fill your glasses and raise a toast:

Cheers, Salute, Santé!