Primitivo di Manduria DOC [pree-mee-TEE-voh dee mahn-doo-REE-uh]
DOC located in the Apulia region in southern Italy. It’s part way down the Salento peninsula, which is the “heel” on the Italian boot. The wines are made from Primitivo, a variety that’s related to California’s Zinfandel grape. In addition to making a dry red wine, producers make other styles including amabile, dolce naturale (a sweet wine with a minimum of 16 percent alcohol), liquoroso secco (a dry fortified wine with a minimum of 18 percent alcohol), and liquoroso secco naturale (a sweet, fortified wine with a minimum of 171⁄2 percent alcohol).
The New Wine Lovers Companion, 2nd Edition, by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Copyright © (1) 2003, 1995 by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Reprinted by arrangement with Barron's Educational Series, Inc.