Apulia (Puglia) Region

Fast facts: over 210,000 vineyard acres, 60/40 red wine grapes vs. white. Key white grape varietals are: Bobino Bianco, Verdeca, Chardonnay, Trebbiano Toscano, and Malvasia Bianca. Key red grape varietals are: Negro Amaro, Primitivo, Malvasia Nera, Uva di Troia, Montepulciano, Sangiovese, and Aleatico.

Cougar's Primitivo clone is FPS03 and the rootstock is 110R.

Primitivo - "Pree-mih-TEE-voe"

Primitivo is dark red wine with bold fruity flavors.

The earliest knowledge of this varietal is that it originated in Greece. It is not known exactly how or when this plant was transported into Italy, but the history of this grape in Italy dates back many centuries. In the 17th century, it is known that the Benedictine monks named the varietal "Primitivo" because of its precociousness (early maturity of the grape) in this zone.

Primitivo has been called many things, but is also known as the father of the Zinfandel grape, now so popular in California. In recent years, DNA studies at the University of California at Davis show that the Zinfandel grape is the same as the Primitivo grape grown in southeastern Italy’s Puglia region.

Deeply colored, rich, and concentrated with flavors of zesty cherry, clove, wild blackberry, raspberry and spice.

Cougar's Negro Amaro clone is FPS01 and the rootstock is 110R.

Negro Amaro - "negr-ah-mah-ro"

Negroamaro, also known as Negro amaro, is a red wine grape variety native to southern Italy. It is grown almost
exclusively in Puglia and particularly in Salento, the peninsula which can be visualised as the “heel” of Italy. The grape
can indeed produce wines very deep in color. Wines made from Negroamaro tend to be very rustic in character,
combining perfume with an earthy bitterness. The grape produces some of the best red wines of Puglia, particularly
when blended with the highly scented Malvasia Nera, as in the case of Salice Salentino.