Primitivo (“pree-mee-TEE-vo”) is one of the most popular red wines of Southern Italy. A structured and powerful, yet velvety wine that, despite its average high alcohol content, always manages to be extremely pleasant and drinkable.
Primary Flavors
Burnt toast
Black pepper
Spicy
Burning rubber
Black cherry
Blackberry
Plum
Violet
Grape Profile
TANNIN: Well Balanced, Neither Overpowering nor Lacking
ACIDITY: Mildly Acidic, Smooth Texture
BODY: Rich, Smooth, and Layered
SUGAR: Moderately Sweet, Balanced
LEVEL OF ALCOHOL: Very Strong (14-16%)
Handling
Serve 16-18°C
Decant 1 hours
Glass Type Large Balloon Glass
Period open3-5 days
Cellar Up to 5 Years
Our Top selection
Pasqua Desire Lush & Zin Primitivo
Luscious cassis and dark plum in a full-bodied, velvety profile. Ideal for rich red meats and hearty stews. No need for decanting; cellar-worthy for up to 6 years.
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Feudi Salentini 125 Primitivo Biologico
Robust with vibrant cassis and cherry aromas. Velvety texture, ripe tannins, perfect for red meats. No decanting needed; cellar up to 5 years. Crafted in sun-soaked Salento.
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Gianfranco Fino Es Primitivo di Manduria
Iconic Primitivo showcasing intense blackberry and dark plum, smooth tannins and rich flavors.
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Tenute Chiaromonte Muro Sant’Angelo Barbatto Primitivo Gioia del Colle
Intensly red in color with fruity notes of plum, blackberry and spices. Pair with cheese and roasts.
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Primitivo Regions
Apulia
Whether it’s red or white, you will be delighted by what Puglia offers.
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Abruzzo
Abruzzo’s unique geographical position makes for excellent food and wine discoveries, full of tradition and culture.
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Campania
Campania has everything from food to nature to the coast and of course, wine!
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Sardinia
Sardinia’s characterful and distinctive wines are a result of the island’s unique and ancient history.
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Food Parings
Starter: Spicy lentil soup
Spicy lentil soup is a tasty, healthy and nutritious dish, that’s very easy to make. A simple and inexpensive vegetarian recipe for the whole family.
Main course: Lasagna Bolognese
A symbol of the Italian cuisine, prepared with lasagna sheets, Bolognese ragù, béchamel sauce and plenty of Parmesan cheese. Generous and amazingly tasty!
Second course: Moroccan lamb stew
A delicious mix of hearty ingredients and warm spices for a dish that requires long cooking but little preparation. Perfect for a Sunday lunch with friends with a juicy bottle of Primitivo.
Thanks to its softness and high alcohol content as well as the ever-present tannins, Primitivo is an ideal wine for pairing with any type of meat dishes: grilled red meats but also game, such as wild boar.
The younger versions are also suitable for first courses with meat sauces or legume soups and spicy preparations. Aged wines are excellent with game stews and long-aged cheeses.
FAQS
What kind of wine is Primitivo?
Primitivo is generally a wine of good structure and full body with high alcohol content, also due to the sunny areas of cultivation. The young wines are fruity and intense. With ageing, it shows a velvety and balanced roundness in the mouth and flavors become more complex.
What does Primitivo taste like?
Primitivo is a wine with an intense red color. The nose reveals notes of red fruits, currants, cherries, blackberries, spices and tobacco. On the palate it is dry, full, sapid, soft, with balanced tannins. With ageing, it acquires spicy notes and a velvety mouthfeel.
Is Primitivo dry or sweet?
Generally Primitivo is a dry red wine, but the grape can also produce excellent dessert wines and delicious rosé, often in blend with other grapes.
Where is Primitivo produced?
Primitivo is a red grape variety widespread in Southern Italy from Abruzzo to Basilicata and from Sardinia to Campania. However, Primitivo is also found in Puglia, especially in the Manduria area.
What should I eat with Primitivo?
Primitivo goes well with grilled, roasted, stewed meats, game, cured meats and meat-based pasta courses. Also excellent in combination with rich soups and aged cheeses.
Want to know it all?
Primitivo Primary Flavours
Primitivo is a full bodied red wine, intense and warm with important tannins and good persistence. The ageing in wood gives it spicy hints, including cinnamon, cocoa, black pepper and liquorice.
Spicy
Burning Rubber
Black Cherry
Blackberry
Plum
Violet
Burnt Toast
Black Pepper
Handling of Primitivo
Serving temperature:
16-18°C
Glass type:
Large Balloon Glass
Suggested time in Decanter:
1 hour
Lasting period once open:
3-5 days
Storing time in the cellar:
Up to 5 years
Consumer info
Price averages:
£10Best pairing with pasta:
Pasta with meaty saucesBest pairing with risotto & rice:
Wild mushroom risottoBest pairing with meat:
LambBest pairing with fish:
Spicy shellfishBest pairing with cheese:
PecorinoTop 3 cuisines that pair well:
Italian, Moroccan, Asian
Wines made from Primitivo
Primitivo:
Young Primitivo wines, sometimes produced in blend with other local grapes, are characterized by a remarkably fruity olfactory profile. These wines offer excellent value for money and are ready to drink.
Barrel Aged:
In its best expressions, such as Primitivo di Manduria DOC, Primitivo is aged in wood, both in barriques or in larger barrels. These wines are usually warm and soft, with a balanced tannic texture, tertiary notes of spices and good longevity.
“Dolce naturale” (dessert wine):
These dessert wines, produced from naturally dried grapes, show a broad and complex palette of ripe red fruit flavours with hints of plum; they are sweet, velvety and intense.
History of Primitivo
The origins of Primitivo are uncertain, but it is believed that the vine was brought from Dalmatia to Puglia more than 2000 years ago by the ancient people of the Illyrians. DNA testing and extensive historical research have confirmed a common origin to the California Zinfandel grape.
Due to the natural high alcohol content, its intense color and full body, for a long time it has been considered only a blending wine, perfect to reinvigorate the weak French and northern European wines.
However, in recent decades, thanks to the careful work of the local winemakers, who favoured low yields and careful vinification, intense and powerful Primitivo wines of great elegance and finesse have been produced.
Final overview
Great expression of the sunny territory of Puglia and Southern Italy, Primitivo gives structured and round wines with extraordinary fruit intensity that are ideal companions to meat dishes and spicy flavours.