It is meant to be cold in southern Italy in January but they were having uncharacteristic weather when I arrived, so I was greeted by blue skies and 20˚C on my arrival in Bari. Even the locals were mystified by the wonderful weather.
Staying just south of Brindisi, in the beautiful city of Lecce, it was the perfect location to research some of the better known wine producing areas of the region – Salice Salentino, Copertino and Squinzano to name but three, as well as head north to experience the lesser known wines from Martina Franca, Locorotondo and Noci. Puglia has undergone a massive transformation over the past twenty years as it has moved from producing vast quantities of very average table wine and being a major contributor the old EEC wine lake, to reducing yield and focussing on superior, high quality export wines. The most famous grape is Primitivo, but you should also look out for Negroamaro, Verdeca and Susumaniello and a host of other local, indigenous varieties that are making the Southern Italian wine scene very exciting indeed.
We have four tours to Puglia this year and I am certain that it will be a revelation for many as we uncover the amazing cuisine and superb wines. Lecce will be our base which allows us to cover a lot of ground and experience a wide range of wines, grapes and estates. We have a tasting lunch at a beautiful Masseria near Noci where we taste through the fabulous wines of A Mano. We contrast the family estates of Morella and Cantele, and a highlight of the trip is sure to be our final night dinner at the historic Castello di Monaci near Salice Salentino.