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their welcoming Osteria which is in an old olive mill. The meal will be specialities from the regional cuisine which is built on wonderfully ¾avoursome vegetables, olive oil, wholemeal pasta and anchovies. The two main red grape varieties Primitivo (aka Zinfandel) and Negroamaro ,bitter black are both fabulous and have now gained an international reputation. For Salice Salentino, the regions best known wine, we visit two high quality estate producers. With Masseria Monaci, the superb wine will command our attention, but at Vallone the wines have to compete with the setting, a castle on the Adriatic coast draped with bourganvillea and surrounded by ancient olives. After our visit to Monaci, we have time to explore fascinating Otranto, the most south-easterly town in Italy. We have in depth tastings with the three companies that put Puglia on the wine map, the incredibly hospitable Candido, one of the driving brands of the region; Cosimo Taurino, one of the earliest to focus on quality, who now have a new winery to lift their act even higher and Leone de Castris, makers of smooth, seductive stunning wines.
Polignano near Trani
Classic Wine Journeys
Puglia, Southern Italy
Saturday 11 - Thursday 16 October
Puglia, the heel of Italy is Southern Italys powerhouse wine region. The production is more than Germany and almost as much as Australia. This may seem surprising but it is not new, Puglia has been producing a lot of good wine for a long time. What is new is that it is now sold as Puglian and that the regional identity is appreciated and sought out. It is because of this and the general up-lift of the area in recent years, that we are now offering this tour concentrating purely on Puglia. We start with a visit to Rivera, the leading winery in northern Puglia. These wines will probably be a surprise even to those who know Puglia well. The grape varieties, soil and climate are all different to the better known south. The wines are very focused with ½ne acidity. Whilst in this area we visit Castel del Monte. This extraordinary building was built by Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor and descendant of the Norman Kings of Sicily, one of the most cultured rulers of the middle ages. In southern Puglia, we visit the Perrucci family who are very interesting and forward thinking. They offer technical and marketing support to growers and sell these wines under the Accademia dei Racemi label. Primitivo di Manduria from old vines is a speciality. This and many other interesting wines are offered in our wide ranging tasting. We lunch at
Trulli houses in the Puglian vineyards
We stay in two superbly located hotels on this trip; in the north in a 4* hotel in a converted abbey, by the traditional ½shing harbour of Trani; in the south in a central 4* in Lecce, possibly Italys purest baroque city. The Wine Guide is Nicola Arcdeckne-Butler M.W.
Outline Itinerary
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Flight BA2590 Gatwick 11.35 / Bari 15.20. Introductory tasting. Dinner. 4* Abbey hotel, Trani. Visit Castel del Monte & lunch at wine estate. Visits & lunch. 4*hotel central Lecce. Visit. Lunchtime in Otranto. Optional walking tour Lecce. Winery dinner. Visits & lunch at wineries. Visit Martina Franca. Bari 1610 / Gatwick 1805. BA2591
Includes
Direct scheduled ¾ights, all taxes, coach, 5 nights 4* hotels, breakfasts, 5 meals with wines, visits, tastings & entrance to castle. Wine Guide & Tour Manager.
Travel Price £ pp Sole occupancy Deposit £ pp Room Upgrade
34
Flight
1399
280
250
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