The first thing to do when planning your trip is to decide which wines you want to try. This is what the Puglia Wine Guide is for.
When is the best time to go?
Wine tourism in Puglia is available all year round, but it is better to come for young wine. The primitivo variety is the first to ripen — tasting is available at the beginning of May. The others ripen closer to the end of summer and until mid-September. At this time there are festivals dedicated to wine.
Best time for wine tourism:
- End of May. In Mottola, Massafra, Crispiano, Grottaglie, Taranto, Pulsano, Manduria young wine is available from autochthonous varieties — primitivo and bianco d’Alessano.
- Early June. In Peschichi, Monte San Angelo, San Severo you can taste white wine made from the bambino variety.
- End of August. Nardo, Copertino, Galatina and Gallipoli are home to the Negroamaro variety. It produces red and pink wine, the best-selling wine in Puglia and Italy.
- Mid-November. Negroamaro red wine is abundant in Brindisi, Lecce, Vernola, Scorrano and Taviano.
In total, there are about 80 wineries in Puglia. There are 25 wines that have been awarded the DOC category. These symbols are a guarantee of high quality and tradition.
The wineries offer wine tasting, master classes on local dishes and olive oil. The same opportunities are offered by wine hotels. To immerse yourself in the wine culture, it is worth spending 3 to 5 days on a trip.
Go where?
Italy has official wine roads — routes specially designed for tourists. They are easily accessible by public transportation. Along the way there are not only wineries, but also beaches, plains, hills, monuments with ancient history.
There are eight such routes in Puglia: Strade del Vino. They are convenient if you want to combine sightseeing, relaxing on the coast and immersing yourself in the wine culture of Italy’s second largest wine-growing region.
Wine Roads of Puglia:
- Strada dei Vini doc della Daunia;
- Strada degli Antichi Vini Rossi;
- Strada dei Vini doc Castel del Monte;
- Strada dei Vini doc della Murgia Carsica;
- Strada dei Vini doc Locorotondo e Martina Franca;
- Strada dei Vini doc Primitivo di Manduria e Lizzano;
- Strada del Vino L’Appia dei Vini;
- Strada del Vino Vigna del Sole.
For example, the Strada degli Antichi Vini Rossi starts in Orta Nova and ends in Barletta. It covers the northern part of the «Terra di Bari» and the southern part of Daunia.
The route is designed to discover vintage red wines. Along the way are the legendary thermae and beaches of Margherita di Savoia, the archaeological site of Canne della Battaglia, and museums.
Young wine from autochthonous varieties along the Strada dei Vini doc Primitivo di Manduria e Lizzano. The small route starts from the coast of Taranto and goes deep into Salento. This road is rich in history and tradition. It is home to the best wine hotels in Puglia.
The best way to organize a self-guided wine road trip is to stay in a wine hotel or masseria. Regional Trenitalia trains and buses run to the hotel. You can rent a bicycle on site.
Where to stay?
Most of the wineries are located in rural areas and do not provide overnight accommodations, only tours, tastings and light snacks.
The situation is remedied by wine hotels — authentic masseria with an enchanting atmosphere. The ancient houses are located in picturesque valleys among vineyards or olive groves. Some of them are close to the coast. Masseria vacations are accompanied by gastro and oenological delights.
Vinilia Wine Resort
The resort hotel is surrounded by vineyards and an olive grove. It is located in the center of Salento — between Brindisi, Taranto and Lecce. From here you can easily reach the Ionian and Adriatic Sea, the Itria Valley and the Murji coast.
The authentic building is the former country residence of the famous Schiavoni family. The hotel is completely restored and decorated in the Apulian style of the last century.
There are 300 items on the hotel’s wine list. Primitivo takes center stage. Tasting tours are organized for guests, a great way to get to know the wine culture of Puglia.
- Price: from 180 €.
- Infrastructure: 18 rooms with a home-like atmosphere. There is a swimming pool, SPA, restaurant, wi-fi, bicycles.
- How to get there: from Bari or Brindisi airport transfer to the hotel (to be paid separately), from Taranto, Lecce, Ostuni to Manduria by Trenitalia train and then by cab 3.5 km. Travel time is 1 hour and 20 minutes.
- Official website and booking link.
Masseria Amastuola Wine Resort
Masseria Amastuola is not just a hotel, but a hotel with a winery. During check-in, guests are given a glass of wine of their own production. Nearby there is a store with organic products at reasonable prices. On sale autochthons primitivo and malvasia, popular varieties — shiraz, cabernet, merlot. There is a separate tasting (20 €).
The 16th century Masseria is located on a high hill and close to the sea. It offers panoramic views of gardens, villages and the bay of Taranto. The complex is fenced by a grove of olive trees and grape bushes. A bicycle is available for rent and can be used to ride along special routes.
The building has been restored, but has retained the historic décor elements in the rooms. Each cabin is styled as a farmhouse, but inside is fully equipped, there is even a stove.
- Price: from 120 €.
- Infrastructure: 9 rooms and suites, equipped with everything you need. Terrace, swimming pool, wi-fi, store, restaurant and bicycle rental.
- How to get there: from Bari and Brindisi airport transfer to the hotel (extra charge), from Taranto to Crispiano by Trenitalia train in half an hour, then by cab 7.5 km to the hotel.
- Official website and booking link.
Tenuta del Barco — Masseria Wine Resort
An ancient 17th century Masseria is a complex of cottages, chalets and family rooms surrounded by olive groves and fruit trees. The buildings are just 100 meters from the private beach on the Ionian Sea coast.
The hotel specializes in organic food and wine. Customers are offered its own wine, a buffet with homemade delicacies. Tastings and excursions to the vineyards are constantly organized.
- Price: from 120 €.
- Infrastructure: swimming pool, beach, terrace, tennis court, diving and snorkeling equipment, horseback riding, bicycles for rent.
- How to get there: from Taranto transfer to the hotel (extra charge). From Taranto to Pulsano take bus no. 295 from CTP, then 4.5 km by cab to the Masseria.
- Official website and booking link.
