Puglia’s Colle Petrito
Map credit: Wine Folly
Remember Eurorailing in the 80’s and the epic train ride down the Italian coast along the Adriatic Sea to Brindisi to catch the ferry to Corfu? Well, that’s not at all what it looks like 35 years later.
The heel of Italy’s boot has been modernized. Children took over for their parents and bought properties of their own. Wineries were renovated. Huge efforts were made to use solar power and go green. And what you see today looks vastly different.
Our featured winery — Cantina Colle Petrito — gives you a snapshot of what’s going on in Puglia. The winery is located in central Puglia near the historic village of Minervino Murge, about an hour inland from Bari.
FIRST, MINERVINO MURGE
Minervino Murge is a town of approx. 10,000 inhabitants. (The photo above is the view from the Colle Petrito winery, about 5 kms to the north.) South of town is the expansive Parco Nazionale dell’Alta Murgia, one of the largest in Italy, encompassing almost 700 square kilometers of grassy shrublands. Most famous of its many archeological finds is the Castel del Monte, a 13th century citadel built by Emperor Frederick II. The land in Puglia is fertile and the region still lives primarily from agriculture, including grapes, olives, almonds & wheat. Below are some views of Minervino Murge from Colle Petrito:
CANTINA COLLE PETRITO
Colle Petrito is a young and dynamic company, founded in 2005 as a project of three friends — Antonio Bellini, Giuseppe Giuliano and Michele Preziusi — who have together brought a range of skills and experiences to the team. Currently the founders manage the winery with the help of their children (team pictured below), who continue their fathers’ vision of expressing their love of and respect for the land while expanding sales to let the rest of the world know about the wonderful wines produced in this area.
Colle Petrito is located on the Murgian Plateau, a beautiful territory with unique characteristics that give their line of wines a strong identity. Their vineyards extend throughout the area of the Barletta-Andria-Trani Province. The landscape is breathtaking. They enjoy a continental climate with cold winters and hot summers.
Their specialty is Nero di Troia, one of the great indigenous grape varietals from the Puglia region. As well, they grow other native grapes such as Primitivo, Aglianico, Fiano, Falanghina & more. We carry all of these wines at Portalis (listed below).
Colle Petrito 2019 Fiano
Reg $16.99 | Mixed Case $13.59
Scents of acacia, citrus, pear, white melon and that classic note of hazelnut on the finish. Fuller-bodied and full of flavor but with lovely balancing acidity. Enjoy with richer pasta dishes, seafoods, chicken, pork & vegetables off the grill.
Colle Petrito 2019 Falanghina
Reg $15.99 | Mixed Case $12.79
Classic white from Southern Italy. The bouquet is fresh and complex with hints of flowers, green apple, pineapple & citrus. The taste is full & fresh with a return of the floral notes. This wine is made for fish and seafood dishes. Or the patio!
Colle Petrito 2015 Aglianico
Reg $14.99 | Mixed Case $11.99
Sometimes this grape is pretty acid with strong tannins, but this one is smooth. Dark fruit (blackberry, black cherry, dark plum), pleasantly dry, medium-bodied. A little spice, chocolate and coffee on the finish. It goes perfectly with red meat, roasts and braised meat.
Colle Petrito 2018 Primitivo
Reg $15.99 | Mixed Case $12.79
Aged in stainless steel. Fuller-bodied, but not overly fruity. Elegant and balanced with hints of dark berries, figs & a note of licorice. Crazy-good wine.
Colle Petrito 2019 Nero di Troia
Reg $14.99 | Mixed Case $11.99
Soft dark fruit (black cherry, plum, blackberry) with hints of violets on the nose and (very subtle) anise & spice on the finish and some light sparkly tannins as well. A truly interesting, delicious wine.
Colle Petrito 2015 Iaccio della Portata Nero di Troia
Reg $23.99 | Mixed Case $19.19
Aged in oak for 6 months. Soft velvety dark fruit. Complex, smooth, with some spice & a hint of licorice. Wonderful wine.
If you are lucky enough to visit, they have a wonderful outside seating area to enjoy their wines & the local cuisine. I am counting on a trip back soon…
Julie, co-owner
Portalis Wine Shop & J. Strecker Selections, a local import company