Aielli & Benevento

Against the backdrop of the blue Mediterranean sky and sea, Masseria San Domenico lies only 500 metres from the Adriatic coast in Puglia.

The hotel’s whitewashed building stands amidst centenarian olive groves; the building itself goes back to the 15th century, when it was used by the Knights of Malta as a watch-tower. Masseria San Domenico offers boutique-style intimacy bound with a magnificent outdoor free-form swimming pool, a state-of-the-art Thalassotherapy spa, a lovely beach, two tennis courts, a modern gym and a challenging 18-hole golf course.

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Here is a list of wines all under $20 that I would drink instead of a number of more expensive wines.

Nino Franco Prosecco Valdobbiadene “Rustico”  NV  D.O.C. 100% Prosecco  (After April 2010 the area is Prosecco and the grape which is Glera) Fresh  citrus aromas and  flavors  with good bubbles. In the Veneto, Prosecco is  always served in a white wine glass.  Veneto $16-20.

di Lenardo Vineyards Grave Del Friuli

1.TOH! Da Uva Friulano- Friulano Friuli D.O.C. Grave, 100% Friuliano(Tocai)  It is a soft well balanced wine. Friuli, under $15

2.Sauvignon.I.G.T Venezia Giulia, a vine blend of Sauvignon Blanc and    Sancerre clones, aromatic  with aromas and flavors of sage and melon. Well    balanced with good acidity. Friuli ,under $15

3.Pass the Cookies I.G.T. (Great name for a dessert wine) Venezia Giulia 100%  Verduzzo. Harvested late and dried three months on the racks. Dried fruit aromas and flavors with undertones of caramel. It is a 500ml but still a great deal for under. Friuli , under $15

Azienda Agricola Travignoli Villa Travignoli Chianti Rufina D.O.C.G.   100% Sangiovese.  Aromas and flavors of red fruit, and real sangiovese character. Tuscany $15

Monte Antico  Toscana I.G.T.85% Sangiovese..% 10 Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot. Red berry aromas and flavors and good acidity. Tuscany $14

Masciarelli

1. Trebbiano d’ Abruzzo  D.O.C. Citrus aromas and flavors with undertones of apple.  Abruzzo, $13

2. Montepullciano d’Abruzzo D.O.C. Red berry aromas and flavors, a hint of cherry and a touch of tobacco,.Abruzza, $13

Cusumano  Benuara  70%Nero d’Avola and 30% Syrah, Sicily I.G.T. Aromatic with red and black fruit . Usually I do not like Nero d’Avola blended with Syrah, but the wine is in stainless steel and 20hl barrels and it works very well. Sicily $15-18

Sella and Mosca Cannonau Riserva  di Sardinia D.O.C. 100% Cannonau.  Red fruit with hints of spices and herbs and very earthly. Sardinia   $15

Agricole Vallone

Vigna Flamino  Riserva Brindisi Rosso D.O.C. Mostly Negroamaro with Malvasis Nrea and Moltipulicano.  Red fruit aromas and flavors with a under tones of prune. Puglia $15

Cantina Sociale Cooperativa Copertino  Copertino Riserva D.O.C. 95% Negroammaro and 5% Malvasia Nera  Black and red fruit aromas and flavors with hint  a of  tobacco. Puglia $15

D.O.C. 100% Negroamaro, aromas and flavors of red fruit with a hint of prune, Puglia  $15

Source:  These wine suggestions are taken verbatim from the wonderful wine blog “  Charles Scicolone on Wine”…Mr. Scicolone is a true expert on Italian wines…he has lectured on vino d’italia for the Italy America Chamber of Commerce,  La Cucina Italiana Magazine, the Italian Trade Commission, The Wine Media Guild and The Smithsonian Institute.  If his sir name ‘Scicolone’ sounds familiar it is likely due to the prominence of his wife, Michele, author of among other fine Italian cookbooks, “The Italian Slow Cooker”,  “The Sopranos Family Cookbook”.   Please visit his website: http://charlesscicolone.wordpress.com.

SALICE SALENTINO

The most famous red from Puglia – at least in the United States – is Salice Salentino. This is produced in the southern part of the region in a district north of the town of Lecce and southwest of the major city of Brindisi. Named for the eponymous commune, Salice Salentino is made primarily from a local variety known as Negroamaro, which literally means “black bitter.” The variety has deep color and offers aromas of black cherry and other black fruits; the acidity levels are not too high and the tannins are lightly bitter, but usually not overly aggressive. Salice Salentino must have a minimum of 80% Negroamaro, with the remaining blend often contaning another local variety, Malvasia Nera, which adds acidity and fragrance to the finished wine.Most examples of Negroamaro are meant to be consumed within 3-7 years of the vintage. Some lighter, fresher examples are priced very reasonably ($12-$14), while the richer, more complex examples that can age for close to a decade are often priced around $25. Among the best examples of a complex, ageworthy Salice Salentino are the “Donna Lisa” bottling from Leone de Castris, the “Armecolo” from Castel di Salve and the “Selvarossa” Riserva offering from Cantine due Palme.Here is a short list of the best producers of Salice Salentino: Agricole Vallone;  Candido;  Feudi di San Marzano; Leone de Castris; Veli; and Tenute al Bano and  Carrisi.

      PRIMITIVO

Another well-known red variety in Puglia is Primitivo, used throughout the region, but primarily in the south (many producers that make a Salice Salentino also bottle a Primitivo). Most researchers believe that from DNA evidence, Primitivo is a genetic parent of Zinfandel, the famed red variety of California. Primitivo offers rich spice, zesty tannins, deep color and ripe black fruit flavors (black raspberry, black cherry, black plum).Most examples of Primitivo focus on the ripeness of the variety and its fruit-forward nature. Generally, most bottlings of Primitivo do not offer the complexity or graceful qualities of a Salice Salentino, but there are examples that are excellent, especially the DOC wines of Primitivo di Manduria. Among those are the “Sessantanni” from Feudi di San Marzano (named for the average age of the vines – 60 years), the “Papale” and “Chicca” bottlings from Vigne e Vini and the “Feudo del Conte” from Antiche Terre del Salento.> Source:  From Tom Hyland’s Blog: “learnitalianwines“

First, real estate in Tuscany went crazy…even broken down, semi- abandoned one bedroom houses were selling for upwards of $500,ooo USD … then Umbria got all the attention.  And now,… judging by the sheer number of real estate ads, the region of Puglia (the heal of the Italian boot) is the place to buy.   

The white cones of Puglia (aka Apulia)…those gleaming houses (whitewashed each year) are curious, rounded structures with gray, stone, cone-shaped roofs.  Known as “trulli” they are common around Bari and Taranto, yet unknown in the rest of the world.  The greatest number of  trulli may be found in the town of Alberobello. (The town’s historical center is on a hilltop, amid the scent of almond and olive trees, and has been declared an International Human Resource by UNESCO.)

Albero Bello is a town with charm so peculiar you won’t think you’re in Italy.  Thanks to its unique housing, this is the city that makes visitors think they’re in the storybook Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.   Albero Bella is 60 kilometers southeast of Bari, the region’s capital.  If you go, try Il Poeta Contadino, a nice little restaurant.