2019 La Cattiva Rosso

Region: Apricena < Puglia < Italy

Grapes: Primitivo

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Organic farming; grapes hand-harvested early to preserve acidity, then de-stemmed and crushed, followed by a short maceration with frequent punchdowns. The juice is then pressed and racked into stainless steel tank, where it finishes fermentation and matures for 8 months. Bottled unfined, unfiltered with no added SO2; zero-zero; 10.5% ABV

Winemaker: Marianna, Manfredi, Alfredo, Loreto, Leonardo, Michael + Paolo

La Cattiva was started by a group of six friends, former beer brewers brought together by their shared passion for all things fermented (especially natty wine), in a restored masseria in Puglia. Their website is super cool, check it out.  And their wines are bright, juicy, wild -- and all below 11% -- fresh and bright, not big and soupy, as you sometimes see in wines from Puglia (it’s hot there). Because these guys (and gal) are careful about canopy management (to ensure grapes don’t get cooked) and picking early to retain freshness and acidity. 

Cattiva's first red wine had to be a tribute to Primitivo, the most important grape of Puglia. However this isn't the typical big, fat Primitivo – instead it's light, juicy and racy, most definitely the chillable kind.  Marianna says, "Of course our first red wine had to be a tribute to Primitivo, the Puglia grape par excellence. That said, don’t expect the usual big, bold and oaky wine.  Our Primitivo has a low alcohol percentage, tons of drinkability and freshness, along with the characteristic structure and fruity charm."  

Primitivo, the Italian cousin to Zinfandel, often becomes flabby and high-ABV in the hot Puglian sun.  But thanks to the crew's early picks and conscious efforts to maintain acidity, this wine is light and refreshing, retaining all of the ripe berry flavors of Primitivo in a tight, bright, 10.5% ABV package.  We love the crunchy red fruit, peppery spice and joyful juiciness of this wine, which shines even brighter with a slight chill.  The perfect spring/summer red that works with everything from park day drinking to BBQs to twilight sipping.