Wines from Puglia tend to be fruity, ripe, full-bodied, red and well priced. Some of the best value wines come from this sunny, dry region. Pair the wines with the traditional foods of the region, which are often based on olives, artichokes, tomatoes, and mushrooms. The best local grapes are Negroamaro, Primitivo, and Bombino Nero.

Primitivo is a red grape that produces very intense, dark ruby red wines with a spicy and fruity nose. It has flavours of blackberry, dark chocolate and liquorice.

It is originally from Croatia, where it is known as Crljenak Kaštelanski. It found its true home on the eroded limestone plateaus of Puglia, Italy, and it is now grown all over the south of Italy. It also does well in California, where it’s called Zinfandel.