Tintoretto 2015 Vino Rosso Salento, Italy

Varietal: Primitivo Vintage: 2015 Region: Salento, Italy Alcohol by Volume: 13.8% MSRP: $16

One of the great joys of working with wine experts from around the globe is discovering the local favorites that are still secret to much of the world. Tintoretto Primitivo is exactly the kind of hidden gem we are thrilled to bring our members, an Italian staple treasured by the locals who know why Salento grapes have been coveted by the world for over 2,000 years.

REGION:

Salento is the heel of Italy’s boot, a peninsula of rolling hills and cooling seaside winds that makes up the southern end of Puglia. Puglia is not only home to some of the country’s oldest vineyards, it is also the heart of Italian agriculture, growing over half of the olives that form the backbone of Italian cooking. Salento has produced wine for more than 2,000 years, with nearly every varietal thriving in the warm growing conditions along the Adriatic Sea.

WINEMAKERS:

Tintoretto’s winery sits very close to the shore, benefiting from a terroir of rich and fertile sandstone soil, and gentle cooling winds from the Adriatic. These vineyards have grown Primitivo grapes for centuries, with the mellow evening temperatures maintaining freshness in a grape that is named for its early-ripening. Puglian Primitivo grapes were brought to America in the 19th century, where they are now known as Zinfandel, but the ideal conditions of Salento produce a full-bodied fruit-forward wine unlike any other.

TASTING NOTES:

Tintoretto opens with aromas of peppery spice and dried red fruits. The palate mimics the nose with even more flavors of plum, spiced cherries and pepper, while oak aging provides the structure and complexity that allows Tintoretto to stand up to rich and flavorful foods. While weighty and powerful, the overall texture from this early ripening variety is warm, lush and fruity.