Felline Vermentino 2016
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Winemaker Notes
Gregory Perrucci, the owner and operator of Felline, is much more than a winemaker. Most importantly, he has made a name for himself internationally through his research organization Accademia dei Racemi. They were the first to champion the Primitivo grape in the Puglia region, previously only used to produce cheap bulk wine, and the first to commit serious effort to studying the many facets of the area’s different soils.
The project began as a collection of five vineyards participating in Puglia's original experiment in soil analysis. Lead by Gregory, this innovative group of wineries and wines has shaped the culture of Southern Italian wine and is pushing the limits of varietally correct expressions of their diverse grape varieties. They focus only on older, native grapes, mostly unknown and underrated on the market: Negramaro, Ottavianello, Malvasia Nera, Sussumaniello, Primitivo. The most important results were achieved on the Malvasia Nera, and, recently, Verdeca and Vermentino.
The estate is also proud to have a new event space in Manduria—“Spacio Primitivo”—that historically housed the “wine factory” of Costantino Perrucci, one of the most famous wine entrepreneurs of Puglia in the 1970s and 80s. The space will serve as an exciting extension of Felline and the goals of the Accademia dei Racemi at which to host tastings and grander events.
A fantastic, aromatic white grape that grows with great success in Sardinia, Tuscany and in lesser proportions on the island of Corsica. Somm Secret—Vermentino is thought to be genetically identical to Liguria’s Pigato grape and Peidmont’s Favorita. It comprises a large proportion of the whites in southern France where it is called Rolle.
Well-suited to the production of concentrated, fruity and spicy red varieties, Puglia is one of Italy’s warmest, most southerly regions. Its entire eastern side is one long coastline bordering the Adriatic Sea. About half way down, the region becomes the Salento Peninsula. This peninsula, bordered by water on three sides, receives moist, nighttime, sea breezes that bring a welcome cooling effect to the region, where little rain creates a challenging environment for its vines. In fact, the region is named for the Italian expression, “a pluvia,” meaning “lack of rain.”
Puglia’s Mediterranean climate and iron-rich, calcareous soils support the indigenous Primitivo, Negroamaro and Nero di Troia. Primitivo produces an inky, spicy, brambly and ripe red wine whose best expression comes from Manduria. Nero di Troia produces tannic, rustic reds from Castel del Monte DOC while Negroamaro, typically blended with Malvasia nera, plays a large part in may blends made throughout the peninsula.
Puglia produces a small amount of white wines as well, predominantly made of the fruity, Trebbiano Toscano, or light, Bombino bianco grapes.