Primitivo and Zinfandel are genetically identical according to UC Davis grapevine geneticist Carole Meredith. The varietal arrived in the United States in the early 1820’s and made its appearance in California around 1850. Needless to say it has become one of the favorite varietals in America.
Primitivo has been cultivated in Italy and in particular Puglia for thousands of years.
Puglia, the “heel” of Italy’s famous boot, is home to one of the greatest collection of ancient Primitivo/Zinfandel vines on the planet.
Although Puglia has been invaded countless times and despite a turbulent and varied past the people have absorbed the best of many cultures and formed a unique way of life. Somehow they seem above the hectic modern world.
They sit in the square, talk of the heat and sand when storms in the Sahara rage, lashing them just 100 miles away. They speak of soccer, food and harvest time.
The people of PUGLIA just seem to be part of the land, stone Trulli (unique stacked stone houses) predating the Roman Empire sit alongside stone walls enclosing one little vineyard after another. They get up and go back into the fields, they work slowly yet with purpose, working the vines as their fathers and forefathers before them.
Please check out the pairing that was done by The Toasted Hostess from The Corkscrew Diary… http;//vimeo.com/4515395 lamb and the fixins’… cheers!