Puglia is the second largest wine-exporting region, and one of its three most characteristic grape varieties is Nero di Troia. This grape is found throughout the region, although it is primarily cultivated in the north of Italy’s heel, and has a long history.
It is a black grape with a thick skin; it’s versatile enough to be vinified as a single variety or in blends, both as a red and a rosé, resulting in rosé wines with excellent quality and truly balanced floral aromas, especially of rose. In short, a black grape capable of great elegance.
This type of grape excels when vinified as a red wine, producing structured wines appreciated by enthusiasts and connoisseurs worldwide. Thanks to its four Nero di Troia wines, the Crifo brand has earned numerous accolades for the Cantina di Ruvo di Puglia.
The characteristics of a Nero di Troia wine make it immediately recognizable, similar to Primitivo and Negroamaro, just to make a regional reference. It has a great polyphenolic structure that is very present in traditional red vinification and makes it particularly elegant in rosé vinification.
In the past, Nero di Troia was used as a “blending” wine, but over the years it has been well reevaluated to the point of receiving DOC recognition as Castel del Monte (of which Crifo produces several labels), Cacc’e mmitte, Orta Nova, Rosso Barletta, Rosso Canosa, and Rosso di Cerignola. Due to its oenological characteristics, Nero di Troia is becoming one of the protagonists of Apulian and all Southern Italian oenology.
All these small appellations, even those that are somewhat unknown, are increasingly gaining recognition and appreciation internationally. This is because in recent years, thanks to the work of vine growers, including the important role played by the 500 members of the Cantina di Ruvo di Puglia cooperative, the true potential of this cultivar has been understood.
For Puglia, it represents yet another symbol of authenticity and territorial identity: Nero di Troia is considered the third most important grape variety in the region, after Primitivo and Negroamaro, which are the most well-known. After being overlooked in the past due to relatively low yields that led producers to underestimate it for decades, today technology allows for good yields and excellent quality.
In fact, since 2000, Puglia has particularly focused on cultivating Nero di Troia vineyards, as evidenced by the many agricultural and business realities that make it their flagship wine. Exemplary in this regard is the sixty-year history of the Cantina di Ruvo di Puglia and the Crifo brand, whose legacy is now entrusted to the expertise of winemaker Massimo Tripaldi.
