WTI Magazine #16    2014 Feb, 07

Author : Vino OK      Translation by: Alessandra Bitetti

The area north of Bari is famous for its Castel del Monte, a fort and castle that was constructed by the Norman Emperor Frederick II in the XII century on the Murge upland on 560 meters above the sea level. It has a rich history full of esoteric cues and the castle – with its unique map – is famous as well as the Emperor, known as one of the most enlightened of the Middle Ages.

The area is formed by two sub-areas with the same temperate climate. The first one is located 300 meters above the sea level and is characterized by the rocky Murge upland where are planted the typical deep espalier vineyard between grazing and arable lands. They are located at the bottom of the blades, where the vine roots are fed even during the dryness summer.

The other sub-area is located among 180 and 300 meters above the sea level, where there are deep lands of tuff-chalky nature and where we can find expanse of olive trees, vineyards and golden wheat.

The red vine varieties farmed for the production under this registered name are Uva di Troia, Aglianico and Montepulciano, but also Cabernet Sauvignon, Bombino Nero and Pinot Nero.

The name of Uva di Troia probably supposes an import from the famous Troy town that was destroyed from Achaeans, but there aren't historical sources can sustain for sure this theory, so its origin remains mysterious. All that is sure is that it has an ancient presence in the Puglia region. It has a thick and compact peel and it has an elevated concentration of pruina and violet colors. It also has a good resistance to Puglia's high temperatures. Its production is limited to the Puglia region.

Neither Bombino Nero is very common, and it grows in the Murge upland. As Uva di Troia it has an unknown but very ancient origin. Its name comes from the local dialect and means "child" (in Italian: Bambino), referring to its form.

It has big grapes, an elevated concentration of pruina, a blue peel and a late ripening (at the beginning of October). It is vigorous and doesn't suffer from a particular negative peculiarities in the farming process.