Cooking classes and vacations in Puglia Italy

If you come to Puglia you should definetely try the many different wines produced from the distinctive local varities, which are impossible to find in any other part of Italy.
Puglia is a region with one of the most ancient enological traditions of Italy. The region counts 25 DOC wines and many local grapes, including the now famous Primitivo. A few years ago Primitivo variety was cultivated with the only purpose of making bulk wines destined to other Italian and European regions, where wines were less robust and with less alcohol content.
Nowadays, thanks to the hard work of many oenologists and wine producers this grape has been revaluated and is now fully appreciated around the world.
Primitivo became famous when it was found out that Primitivo and Zinfandel have the same DNA.
Some researchers say that both Primitivo and Zinfandel have Balkan origins, from the Zagarese grape. They say that Primitivo grape was introduced in Puglia in the 17th century.
Other people say that the primitivo grape was introduced in Puglia much earlier by the Greeks.

The name primitivo comes from the fact that this grape ripens earlier than other varieties.
The current success is due to the innovation introduced in the vineyards, such as the early harvest and the very low yield per hectare so that the resulting wines are softer, more fruity and less aggressive in terms of alcohol.
Lots of wine makers still practise the manual harvest which results in higher quality of the grapes and so of the wines!

Primitivo is produced everywhere in Puglia, but the DOC areas for Primitivo are Gioia del Colle (where the different temperature between night and day lets the fruit ripen slowly and perfectly) and Manduria (where the wind coming from the sea contributes to keeping the fruit in good health and to its flavors). The wine obtained from primitivo is well structured, with flavors of ripen red fruit and minimum alcohol degree of 14%.

This grape has a strong and very distinctive character and Pugliese wine makers wisely prefer a short time aging in French barrels (instead of complying with the international wines with a stronger wood taste). This is a wine to be aged.
Today wines made of Primitivo show undeniable class in a style that stands comparison with its American counterparts.
Every last Sunday of May is a special day for those who love wines from Puglia. All wineries are open to visitors for free visits and tastings, while usually, it is not possible to visit wineries without an appointment.

For more info on our wine tours in Puglia please email at: info.stile@gmail.com

The “Cummerse”, Characteristic Peaked Roofs made of Chalky Slabs.
White Locorotondo is the most beautiful balcony in Murgia dei Trulli in Puglia Southern Italy. From its belvedere, you can admire territory that at times seems emotional: a mosaic made of small vineyards surrounded by stoned walls, scrubs of Mediterranean forests and silver olive tree gardens that surround the old manor farms, thousands of trullo houses spread in the villages. Moreover, the small old centre of Locorotondo, closed into its circular perfection of stones and mortars, once upon a time marked by walls, seems pending between dream and reality: the white colour of lime wraps everything, it looks like flashing background of baroque architecture of local stones, underlining the intense colour of flowers on balconies. Characteristic peaky roofs made of grey stoned “chiancarelle”, called cummerse, exalt the facades, that inside represent the typical environment of star vaults. In the village centre there are no particular architectonical emergencies, everything is gracious and intimate, , and you can feel the sense of order, respect, and mature civility that surrounds small treasure chests of faith and art.

Local Products
Secular devotion for grapes cultivation, favoured the production of white wines of excellent quality, such as the famous Bianco Locorotondo Doc: fresh, light, dry, of delicate wine scent, ideal for appetizers, excellent with fish and shellfish.

Local dishes
Gnumerèdde suffuchète are roulades of lamb’s tripe, tied with animal’s guts and boiled for a long time in terra cotta pans. Traditional dishes are also: white dry broad beans, boiled in “pignata” and mashed with some olive oil added: after this processing you have excellent white mashed purée, which should be served with chicory (the real name of this ancient dish is “macco con verdure”). And we cannot forget, meat baked in stoves with coal that echoes back the old traditions; tridd, home-made pasta based of non-processed flour and eggs, a little bit of pecorino cheese and parsley, served in soup made of turkey; country “focaccia” bread, and naturally, “orecchiette” the most famous fresh pasta from Puglia.