Wines from Italy

Puglia is the “heel of the boot” of Italy.

This is where the ancient Greeks first landed on their sea travels, bringing vines that eventually spread all through the country. It is a place of seafaring and winemaking. The two are inseparable and both have been a part of the region as far back as history goes.

The fruit for Layer Cake Primitivo (aka Zinfandel) comes from head-trained old vines. This is truly remarkable plant material in very old vineyards, some dating to Roman times. The soils in Manduria are red, iron-rich clays with large calcareous rocks, shells and coral from ancient seabeds. We’re talking ancient, gnarled baskets hugging the ground and rocks around them, ancient chariots buried underneath… lost civilization stuff.