A rich, dark, winter-warming red with plush fruit, velvety texture and just a touch of southern Italian wildness. Stilio Primitivo di Manduria is everything fans of Primitivo love: ripe, spicy, generous and irresistibly smooth, a perfect fireside bottle and a brilliant example of Puglia’s star grape at its sun-soaked peak.
Mottura Stilio Primitivo di Manduria, Producer
Cantine Mottura has been crafting wines in Salento, Puglia, since 1927 and remains one of the region’s most respected traditional producers. Now led by the fourth generation, the estate champions indigenous varieties, sustainable viticulture and a philosophy that blends modern precision with old-vine heritage.
Mottura sources grapes from some of the best plots in the Manduria area, where Primitivo has grown for centuries. The family has made Primitivo their calling card, focusing on ripe, concentrated fruit, meticulous vineyard care and a classic southern Italian style that embraces warmth and generosity without losing balance.
Stilio is one of their flagship wines: expressive, bold and crafted with an eye toward showcasing the depth and richness Primitivo can achieve when handled with care.
Mottura Stilio Primitivo di Manduria, Terroir & Winemaking
Manduria, located in the sun-drenched heel of Italy’s boot, is widely recognised as the grand cru zone for Primitivo. Here, vines grow in iron-rich red soils over limestone, producing small, concentrated berries with naturally high sugar and intense dark fruit.
Stilio is made from old vines, many trained in the traditional alberello (bush-vine) system, which allows grapes to withstand intense summer heat while retaining freshness. Yields are kept low to enhance concentration and flavour purity.
After hand-harvesting, the grapes undergo:
- Temperature-controlled fermentation to preserve fruit character
- Gentle extraction for soft, velvety tannins
- Ageing in oak barrels, adding notes of spice, vanilla and cocoa but without overpowering the fruit
The result is a Primitivo that is both bold and refined, rich, but not heavy; powerful, but beautifully smooth.
Mottura Stilio Primitivo di Manduria, Tasting Notes
Deep ruby with garnet edges. The nose bursts with black cherry, plum jam, blackberry liqueur and sweet spice, followed by hints of vanilla, cocoa, tobacco leaf and a touch of dried fig.
On the palate, it is full-bodied and luscious, offering layers of dark fruit, cinnamon, chocolate and warming spice, wrapped in velvety tannins. A subtle savoury edge adds complexity, while the finish is long, smooth and softly sweet, classic Manduria richness with modern refinement.
Food pairing suggestion: Slow-Braised Lamb Shoulder with Rosemary & Garlic. The wine’s dark fruit and warm spices harmonise beautifully with slow-cooked lamb, while its richness enhances the savoury, herb-infused meat.
Did you know?
Primitivo shares a genetic lineage with Zinfandel, but Manduria’s climate gives the grape a deeper, richer, more luscious character than almost anywhere else in the world.
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