Red wines · Apulia
Buy Primitivo: Apulia's powerhouses
Hand-picked Primitivo from Puglia: from juicy everyday wine to dense Riserva, personally tasted and delivered directly from stock in Ramsei.
The answer in brief
Primitivo is Apulia's powerful red flagship variety: deep in colour, soft and warm, with aromas of ripe cherries, plums and spices. At Weinshop365 you buy personally tasted Primitivo, from the straightforward Puglia IGT to the Primitivo di Manduria DOC, with delivery throughout Switzerland (CHF 9.90, free from CHF 200.–) or collection at the wine shop in Ramsei.
Apulia
Origin
Powerful & soft
Style
16–18 °C
Serving temperature
2–3 working days
Delivery time
Our Primitivo at a glance
We have tasted every bottle before it joined our range. Here is our selection from Apulia.
Apulia: Italy's sunny south
«Primitivo, the early ripener, bringing the sun of Apulia into the glass.»
The name comes from «primativus», the early-ripening one: on the heel of the Italian boot, between the Adriatic and the Ionian Sea, Primitivo ripens earlier than almost any other red variety. Hot summers, old bush vines and sparse soils produce deeply coloured wines with ripe cherry, plum and spicy warmth, powerful yet soft in tannin.
With Masca del Tacco, our range includes a producer straight from Apulia, visited and tasted in person, as are all wines at Wyhus Aemme.
From everyday wine to Riserva
Primitivo is not just Primitivo: three styles, three uses, and the right wine for every budget.
Primitivo Puglia IGT
The easy entry point: juicy, fruit-forward and easy-drinking, an everyday wine for pasta, pizza and after work.
Primitivo di Manduria DOC
The core zone of Primitivo: stricter rules, lower yields, often old vines. Denser, more concentrated and with a longer finish.
Riserva & Selections
Aged longer, with more structure and depth: wines for special occasions and for those you may cellar for a few years.
What goes with Primitivo
At the table
The soft, warm fruit of Primitivo handles roasted aromas and spice like hardly any other variety. That's why it is the barbecue wine par excellence.
Serving tips
- Serve lightly chilled at 16 to 18 °C: Primitivo quickly turns heavy if too warm.
- Young IGT wines are ready to drink straight away, while robust Manduria and Riserva benefit from an hour in the carafe.
- Details on ageing potential and serving temperature can be found for each wine on the product page.
Wine shop Ramsei · Emmental
Primitivo direct from the Ramsei warehouse
All wines are stored by us in the Emmental: collect with a 5% discount for cash payment from CHF 200.– or have them delivered, within 2 to 3 working days throughout Switzerland.
- Wyhus Aemme, Sumiswaldstrasse 15, 3435 Ramsei
- Mon–Fri 08.00–11.45 / 13.00–17.00, Sat 09.00–12.00
- 034 402 78 24
Questions about Primitivo
What kind of wine is Primitivo?
Primitivo is the leading red grape variety of Apulia in southern Italy: deeply coloured, powerful and yet soft in tannin, with aromas of ripe cherry, plum and spicy warmth. The name comes from «primativus», the early-ripening one.
Are Primitivo and Zinfandel the same?
Yes, genetically Primitivo and Californian Zinfandel are the same grape variety. Stylistically, however, they differ considerably: Apulian Primitivo tends to be more Mediterranean and spicier, Zinfandel often fruitier and sweeter.
What is the difference between Primitivo di Manduria and Primitivo Puglia IGT?
Primitivo di Manduria DOC comes from the core zone of the variety and is subject to stricter rules: the wines are denser, more concentrated and often from old vines. Puglia IGT is the fruit-forward, uncomplicated version for every day.
What food pairs well with Primitivo?
With everything that brings roasted aromas and spice: grilled dishes and BBQ, braised dishes, pasta with hearty sauces, matured hard cheese and, as a digestif companion, dark chocolate.
How should I serve and store Primitivo?
Serve lightly chilled at 16 to 18 °C. Simple Primitivo is drunk young, while robust Manduria and Riserva keep for several years depending on the wine. The ageing potential is stated on each wine's product page.
Ready for a taste of Apulia?
Order your Primitivo conveniently online or get advice at the wine shop on which style suits you.