This wine is made by the Botter winery of Veneto, Italy specifically for the American importer, Polaner Selections. The winery is run by the third generation of the Botter family and makes wines from many terroirs throughout Italy. This Primitivo is sourced from top vineyards in the DOC Manduria zone of Apulia in southern Italy, home of Italy's best Primitivo vineyards. 

 

The Primitivo grape is genetically similar to Zinfandel and genetically identical to the Croatian grapes Crljenak Kaštelanski and Tribidrag. It is known to be a robust wine and its naturally high sugar levels can ferment to levels of alcohol exceeding 15 percent. Wines made from Primitivo have notes of plum and spice, like Zinfandel, but because of different growing soils and climate, the fruit character is less jammy, the structure more akin to old world wines, with rustic notes of earth and spice, as well as tamed fruit flavors.

 

The climate in the Taranto area of Apulia is warm and temperate with significant rainfall all year round. During the summer, the African winds cause rapid and marked rises in temperature and high variation as well. Grapes for this wine were harvested in the third week of September. Destemmed and gently-pressed grapes are vinified using the traditional “submerged cap” system, with careful control in order to extract delicate tannins and varietal fruit characteristics. Fermentation and macerations last 12-15 days at a controlled temperature. This wine can be aged for 5-6 years from the vintage date.