The White House’s Favorite Wine
At the White House they drink red wine, Made in Italy. Donald Trump would seem to have stocked up on Primitivo di Puglia wine: as many as 4320 bottles have travelled from our beloved Puglia directly to Washington (pino’s pizzeria)
Let’s go back to the beautiful Puglia and talk about Primitivo wine (also because if Trump ordered it there must be a reason, or not?!). Well, if I say “Primitivo” we all think about the very famous Primitivo di Manduria, but in reality the story of this wine is born in the Gioia del Colle area, in the province of Bari. There are two main production areas, both excellent, but with differing characteristics, due to both the production regulations and the areas. The Primitivo produced in the DOC area of Manduria – which includes the provinces of Taranto and Brindisi – is grown on fertile and sandy soils, characterized by a mild climate due to proximity to the sea.
The DOC Gioia del Colle
The DOC Gioia del Colle is instead grown on the Murgia plateau of Bari, on more clayey soils and with a more Mediterranean climate. As for the production specifications, the Primitivo di Gioia del Colle must be made exclusively with grapes produced in the DOC – therefore in purity – while for Primitivo di Manduria it is allowed to use a percentage of other grapes. And what about the taste? Both characterized by an intense red color, first to the nose and then on the palate, these wines have different characteristics: that of Manduria has hints of licorice and pepper, and is deep and fruity in the mouth; that of Gioia del Colle has fruity scents – cherry, plum, black cherry – and is warm and enveloping on the palate.
Because of its important structure and natural high alcohol content, Primitivo wine has long been used exclusively as a wine for blending, that is to give vigor and body to structurally weaker wines. In the last decades, however, a greater awareness has developed among the producers of this excellent wine that, thanks to particular production techniques, have succeeded in obtaining wines that are intense, but still elegant and pleasant. Two red wines of great structure then, but at the same time sweet and round on the palate, perfect to be enjoyed in combination with meat, aged cheeses, salami and also grilled fish!
