
Primitivo
Learn about Primitivo — taste profile, popular regions and more …
Responsible for inky, brambly, and ripe fruit driven red wines, Primitivo bears more than a passing resemblance to Zinfandel—and there’s a very good reason for this. The two varieties are actually one and the same and have a Croatian origin. Primitivo was brought to Italy from Croatia in the late 1800s and became an important variety in the hot, dry, southern region of Puglia. Here it was named from the Latin word, primativus, meaning "first to ripen."
Tasting Notes for Primitivo
Primitivo is a dry, red wine. The flavors of Primitivo are, naturally, very similar to those of Zinfandel, but often it is somewhat leaner, and more structured and earthy. Typical characteristics include ripe berry fruit, plum, black pepper, fresh earth and sweet baking spice.
Perfect Food Pairings for Primitivo
Primitivo pairs best with full-flavored, hearty meat dishes like roasted lamb, beef brisket, hamburgers, meatballs with Moroccan seasonings, beef fajitas or anything barbecued.
Sommelier Secrets for Primitivo
The link between Primitivo and Zinfandel is quite a recent discovery. While there was some speculation that they were related, it wasn't until 1994 when grape geneticists at UC Davis identified them as identical. The grape goes by the name of Tribidrag in Croatia and is a parent of the modern Croatian variety, Plavac Mali.
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Cantele Primitivo 2012Primitivo from Italy
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Feudi di San Gregorio Primitivo 2012Primitivo from Italy
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Pinnacoli Primitivo 2012Primitivo from Puglia, Italy
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Uvaggio Primitivo 2012Primitivo from Lodi, California
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Matane Primitivo Di Manduria Il Matane 2012Primitivo from Italy
- WE
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Matane Primitivo Puglia 2012Primitivo from Italy
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Tormaresca Torcicoda Primitivo 2012Primitivo from Italy
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Masseria Surani Heracles Primitivo 2012Primitivo from Puglia, Italy
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Cantine Due Palme Sangaetano Primitivo di Manduria 2012Primitivo from Puglia, Italy
- WS
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Li Veli Orion Primitivo 2012Primitivo from Italy
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Andis Primitivo 2012Primitivo from Amador, Sierra Foothills, California
- WE
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La Fiera Primitivo Salento 2012Primitivo from Italy
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Poggio Basso Primitivo 2012Primitivo from Tuscany, Italy
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Fiddletown Primitivo 2012Primitivo from Sierra Foothills, California
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Vini Menhir Quota 31 Primitivo 2012Primitivo from Puglia, Italy
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Layer Cake Primitivo aka Zinfandel 2012Primitivo from Italy
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Drytown Cellars Primitivo 2012Primitivo from Amador, Sierra Foothills, California
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Az. Ag. Morella Mezzanotte Salento Rosso 2012Primitivo from Puglia, Italy
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Sobon Estate Rezerve Primitivo 2012Primitivo from Amador, Sierra Foothills, California
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Cantine Menhir Salento Salento Quota 31 Primitivo 2012Primitivo from Puglia, Italy
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Casa Vinicola Botter Salento Doppio Passo Primitivo 2012Primitivo from Puglia, Italy
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Jacuzzi Primitivo 2012Primitivo from Lake County, North Coast, California
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Produttori Vini Manduria Primitivo di Manduria Memoria 2012Primitivo from Puglia, Italy
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Castello Monaci Piluna Primitivo 2012Primitivo from Puglia, Italy
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Azienda Agricola Tenuta Viglione di Zullo Giovanni Puglia Primitivo 2012Primitivo from Puglia, Italy