12 e Mezzo Negroamaro del Salento (2022)

About this wine

This Negroamaro from Salento presents a deep ruby red color with purple hints. On the nose, it offers enticing aromas of berries, including blackberries and raspberries. The palate is marked by persistent vanilla notes that enhance its velvety and smooth flavor. Aged in French tonneaux for at least 3 to 6 months, this wine achieves a harmonious balance between fruit and subtle oak influences. Negroamaro, meaning 'black and bitter,' is a grape variety native to southern Italy, known for producing wines with deep color and rustic character.

About the grape

Negroamaro is a red grape variety native to southern Italy, particularly the Salento region in Puglia. Its name combines 'negro' (black) and 'amaro' (bitter), reflecting the grape's dark color and slightly bitter taste. This grape has been cultivated in the area for centuries, thriving in the region's hot, dry climate and calcareous-clay soils. In the 2022 Varvaglione 12 e Mezzo Negroamaro del Salento, Negroamaro is the sole varietal, showcasing its deep color and rich flavors. The wine undergoes maceration at controlled temperatures, followed by aging in French tonneaux for at least three months, enhancing its complexity and smoothness.

Quick facts

• 🍇 The name 'Negroamaro' translates to 'black and bitter,' reflecting the grape's dark color and characteristic bitterness.
• 🛢️ The 12 e Mezzo Negroamaro del Salento is aged in French tonneaux for at least 3 months, enhancing its complexity.
• 🍷 This wine exhibits a deep ruby red color with purple hints, indicating its rich pigmentation.
• 🌿 On the palate, it offers persistent notes of vanilla, contributing to its velvety and smooth taste.
• 🏰 The Varvaglione winery, established in 1921, has been producing wines for over a century, showcasing a rich heritage.

Palate profile

Producer

Varvaglione 1921, established in 1921 by Nicola Varvaglione, is one of southern Italy's oldest wineries, now managed by the fourth generation of the Varvaglione family. Located in Leporano, Puglia, the winery focuses on native grape varieties such as Primitivo, Negroamaro, and Malvasia Nera, producing wines that reflect the region's rich terroir. In 2011, to commemorate its 90th anniversary, Varvaglione introduced the special Primitivo cuvée "Papale Oro," named after vineyards once owned by Pope Benedict XIII. The winery emphasizes sustainability, collaborating with universities to monitor vineyards and implementing eco-friendly practices like using Nomacorc Ocean corks made from recycled ocean plastics.