The magic formula for the success of Primitivo is called accessibility with high quality and low price – or simply: Amore, amore, amore....
Primitivo has many admirers today – also thanks to Zinfandel, which is especially widespread in California. You may ask yourself what Primitivo and Zinfandel have in common. The southern Italian Primitivo and the Californian Zinfandel are genetically identical. Both descended from the Croatian Crljenak Kaštelanski. This fact was confirmed in 1999 by grape variety geneticist Carole Meredith. This discovery encouraged numerous southern Italian wineries to invest in new technologies and henceforth to focus on quality instead of quantity. For the hitherto rather unknown Primitivo, this was the starting signal for its triumphal procession.
By the way, there is nothing disreputable about its name – Benedictine monks called the grape «primativus» because it is the first to ripen.The grapes are harvested early, and the high sugar content of the must ensures a high alcohol content (up to 15%). You just have to love Primitivo, because it is extremely pleasing and uncomplicated – goes well with vegetables, hard cheeses, meat as well as pizza, pasta and also stews – in fact with everything. Primitivo wine stands for carefree enjoyment like no other. So it is little wonder that these strong southern Italians are the best-selling wines at Flaschenpost.