Primitivo wineThe sun of Puglia in your glass

Primitivo is the south of Italy captured in a glass: generous, warm and fruit-driven. On the nose you'll find ripe plums, cherries and blackberries, often joined by chocolate, vanilla, tobacco and sweet spice. In wines from old vines, notes of raisins, dried herbs and coffee appear as well.

On the palate, Primitivo is full and round, with soft, velvety tannins and a generous alcohol level. Unlike a Sangiovese, for example, Primitivo is not about taut acidity but about richness and smoothness — a wine that embraces you from the very first glass.

The grape also has a surprisingly fresh side: harvested early and vinified with only brief skin contact, Primitivo produces a juicy, fruity rosé with strawberry, cherry and Mediterranean herbs. One grape, two completely different faces of Puglia.

Serve red Primitivo at 16 to 18 degrees Celsius. Served too warm, the alcohol starts to dominate, so feel free to take the bottle out of the room half an hour ahead or give it a short spell in the fridge. A Rosato di Primitivo, on the other hand, is best enjoyed well chilled, around 8 to 10 degrees.

At the table, Primitivo is the life of the party. Its rich, fruity style is a beautiful match for grilled and roasted meat — think spare ribs, barbecue, lamb dishes and tomato-based stews. Southern Italian classics such as orecchiette with sausage or pasta with a hearty ragù are equally spot on.

Vegetarian pairings work just as well: grilled aubergine, mushroom risotto or dishes with roasted peppers easily hold their own next to the full flavour. And with semi-mature and aged cheeses, Primitivo's sweet fruitiness shines even brighter.

If you want to buy Primitivo wine, NEVINI offers a carefully selected range from the heart of Puglia, from Cignomoro and Campi Deantera.

The Cignomoro Primitivo di Manduria DOC is the perfect introduction: 100% Primitivo from the famous DOC, full and powerful with ripe plums, cherries and chocolate. Ready for the next step? Choose the 80 Vecchie Vigne from the same house, made from vines roughly eighty years old with tremendous concentration, or the Verso by Campi Deantera, sourced from old alberello vineyards.

Prefer something fresh? The Spinacave Rosato di Primitivo shows the grape's summery side. And in Cignomoro's 6 Anime, Primitivo takes the lead in a blend of six typical Puglia grapes.

All bottles are easy to order online, directly from the importer. Not sure which Primitivo suits you best? Send us a message on WhatsApp — we're happy to think along with you from our home base in Maastricht.