EXCEPTIONAL FOOD WINE ALERT:

Today’s selection from the southern Italian region of Salento is an exceptional ‘food’ wine with trenmendous rustic character, abundant aromas and flavors and a sturdy but approachable structure. Bring some Italian flare back to your home every time you open a bottle of this wine.

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Mission Codename: Double But Not Bitter Black

Operative: Agent White

Objective: Visit the Puglia region and return with a unique and rustic wine only available from the region

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Vita Italia

Wine Subject: 2009 Negroamaro del Salento IGT

Winemaker: Salvatore Dell’ Aquila

Backgrounder: This grape is indigenous to the southern Italian region of Puglia, and is nearly exclusive to the peninsula (Italy’s heel) of Salento. This region splits the Adriatic from the Ionian sea. The Negroamaro grape is known for deep rustic and earthy wines that are among the best in the region. Mistakenly called ‘Black Bitter’ from the name Negro Amaro, the correct meaning is Black Black from the combination of Latin Negro and Greek Maro with its history though to date back to the 7th century BC before the time of Pliny.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Beautiful deep burgundy in color with ruby streaks that shine through its dense heart. Along the edges the ruby color lightens slightly and when swirled, widely spaced thin legs streak down the side of the glass.

Smell – Rustic and redolent with intense notes of red cherry that blends with black licorice. Perfumed woody and floral notes and aromas of other dark black and red fruit mingle with soft green herbs, earthy and balsamic notes.

Feel – Dry, expansive and full bodied this warm wine has vibrant and rustic acidity with sturdy but smooth tannins and a touch of minerality at mid-palate.

Taste – Ripe, tangy and tart red and black-cherry lead the way with notes of bittersweet chocolate and dried plum following. Earthy and herbal notes, along with black licorice and balsamic flavors that are found on the nose linger as the fruit fades.

Finish – Long and rustic on the finish with the tangy red and black fruit lingering on the palate as the other complex flavors dance over the palate.

Conclusion – The 2009 Vita Italia Negroamaro del Salento IGT is a classic and rustic southern Italian wine that immediately transports you to the seaside. Rustic character, abundant aromas and flavors and a sturdy but approachable structure. Hearty enough for grilled meat and pasta with red sauce, this wine has the acidity to pair with a wide range of food but also the finesse to compliment more delicate dishes including Branzino cooked with a tomato-basil based sauce.

Winemaker Brief:

Born ’83, in Apulia, a Graduate in Vine Growing and Oenology at the Faculty in Foggia, student with Professor Luigi Moio, a celebrity in the Italian Oenology. His young age proves, if necessary, how the land and its variety of treasures , may still be a strong professional attraction for young people willing and able to appreciate all the traditional, moral and historical values.

Salvatore inherited his love of the wine industry from his father and from the memories of the times when, as a young boy, hand in hand with him in the family winery, he learned to let the grapes speak, simply listening and then carefully nurturing the process, the respect shown by his father towards each vine tree, naming them one by one, and the vintage days, when all the village was involved in this festive event.

So, coached by his father, Salvatore was more and more involved in the future of the family winery, hence the need to acquire technical and professional capabilities with a degree in Oenology.

The passionate and magic lessons of Professor Luigi Moio, were decisive for his career. Pure poetry, and these memories are still the essential vital element in his approach to the wine world.

Though cooperating with a local Winery, Salvatore had also the chance to work for VITA ITALIA , appreciating their great respect for wine, their competence, their easy and joyous attitude. Primitivo VITA and Negramaro VITA are the first wines born from their contagious enthusiasm and their mutual passion. Two wines of consolidated success. Believing in the great potential of VITAITALIA, Salvatore is looking forward to years of long and joyous cooperation wishing a great success for the many other wines that they will contribute to create.

As he is used to say …good wine comes from the vine and no man, equipment or additional element could ever make a better wine than the quality of the grapes you grow…

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of Salento can be seen in this satellite photo.