Ampelique Grape Note

Primitivo

The Puglian name for an old Adriatic grape.

Primitivo is one of Puglia’s most recognisable black grapes, deeply associated with the warm, dry landscapes of southern Italy. Around places such as Manduria and Gioia del Colle, the grape has become known for dark fruit, generous ripeness, soft texture and a sunlit Mediterranean character. In the vineyard, Primitivo is vigorous, early to ripen, naturally generous and sometimes challenging because its compact clusters can ripen unevenly.

But Primitivo is not a separate grape from Zinfandel. It is part of the same variety now best understood under the older Adriatic name Tribidrag. That makes the story more layered: one grape, with Croatian roots, southern Italian warmth and a Californian old-vine identity.