Gioia del Colle

The PDO "Gioia del Colle" includes white, red and rosé wines, as well as wines with the following grape varieties: Primitivo, Aleatico dolce and Aleatico liquoroso dolce.

Grapes

The composition of the grape varieties for Gioia del Colle red and rosé wines, requires a share of between 50% and 60% of Primitivo vines, which are combined with Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Negroamaro and Malvasia nera, which alone or in combination, represent between 40% and 50% (for Malvasia there is a 10% limit). For Bianco, on the other hand, between 50% and 70% of Trebbiano Toscano is required, together with other varieties suitable for cultivation in the central Murgia (30%-50%). Aleatico, on the other hand, is made with an 85% of the homonymous vine, and a maximum of 15% of Negroamaro, Malvasia nera and/or Primitivo. Finally, the Primitivo is produced in single-variety vinification with only the grapes of the specific vine.

Physicochemical and Organoleptic properties

The Red wine (minimum total alcoholic strength by volume 11.5% vol.) ranges from ruby to garnet, with a vinous and pleasant, characteristic aroma and dry, harmonious and tannic taste. The Rosé wines (11% vol.) has a delicate ruby red colour, a slightly vinous, characteristic fruity aroma and a dry, fresh, harmonious and pleasant taste. The White wines (10.5% vol.) tend towards straw yellow, with a pleasant and delicate aroma, with fruity characteristics, and a dry, fresh and harmonious flavour. The Primitivo (13% vol.) is violet-red, with a slightly characteristic aroma and a full, pleasant and harmonious flavour, sometimes slightly sweet; as it ages it becomes orange and a velvety taste. Aleatico Dolce (15% vol.) and Liquoroso Dolce (18.5% vol.) is garnet in colour, with violet reflections and a tendency towards orange as it ages; the aroma is delicate, the flavour full, velvety and moderately sweet (pleasant and warm in Liquoroso).

Grape production area

The production area, located in the province of Bari, corresponds to the south-east of Murgia.

Specificity and historical notes

According to historical records, the selection of the Primitivo grape variety, the emblem of Gioia del Colle wines, is due to the primicerius abbot Francesco Filippo Indellicati, between the late 1700s and early 1800s.