Torrevento Castel del Monte Bolonero 2019

Blackberry Jam, Black Licorice, Slate, Hickory Smoke

Puglia, Italy’s “heel of the boot,” is experiencing a renaissance lately, moving away from bulk wine production and re-planting native varieties. Many of the region’s winemaking traditions trace their origins to the days of the ancient Greeks, including the variety Nero di Troia, rumored to have been planted by veterans of the Trojan War. Foreign influence and numerous conflicts brought additional wine knowledge to the region, merging native traditions with their own. Cantina Torrevento, located in the Castel del Monte DOC, is dedicated to the preservation and re-discovery of their homeland’s winemaking history.

Castel del Monte is a small DOC, whose vineyards surround a medieval fortress of the same name. Nero di Troia is the dominant red variety, but at Torrevento the winemakers choose to blend with Aglianico in order to concentrate body and tannin. Manual harvest takes place towards the end of October. Once fermented dry, the wine matures in stainless steel for 8 months before bottling. When you open this wine, I strongly suggest decanting for at least half an hour. Drink now through 2025 with braised short ribs, vegetable stews, or pasta Puttanesca.