Colline Joniche Tarantine

The wines of the Protected Designation of Origin "Colline Joniche Tarantine" are: White,White spumante, Verdeca, Rosé, Red, Novello, Red Superiore, Primitivo and Primitivo superiore, Primitivo Liquoroso (dry and natural sweet wine). 

Grapes

The Bianco, also in the Spumante version, is obtained by using grapes from vines composed of 50% Chardonnay; other non-aromatic white grapes, suitable for cultivation in Salento, may also be used. The same applies to Rosso and Rosato, which have a 50% Cabernet Sauvignon base, with the addition of other red grapes. Instead, in Verdeca and Primitivo wines (with all their variants), the homonymous vine must represent 85% of the grapes. In this case, too, other similarly coloured grape varieties can be grown in Salento. 

Physicochemical and Organoleptic properties

The white wine (minimum total alcoholic strength by volume 12% vol) is straw-coloured, with a delicate and pleasant aroma and a dry and fresh flavour. In the Spumante variant (11% vol), it is enriched with fine and persistent foam and fruity notes in the perfume. Similar characteristics also apply to Rosé, which has a more fruity aroma (12,50% vol. ). Red (12,50% vol) and Red riserva(13% vol) are ruby red in colour and tend towards garnet as they age; they have an intense and pleasant aroma, combined with a dry, full-bodied, harmonious and rightly tannic flavour. In the Novello variant, the tonality tends to be purplish and the taste becomes more rounded and fruity. The Verdeca wine and the different types of Primitivo have peculiarities, all listed in the specification, which distinguish them from others of the same color and that are attributable to the grape variety to which they belong. 

Grape production area

The production area is rather limited, affecting only the territories of ten municipalities, and is located in the upper part of the Ionian Arch - Tarantino. 

Specificity and historical notes

The most reliable historical reconstruction on the start of viticulture in Taranto is the one that gives the credit to the Spartan settlers, who founded the city of Taranto.