Francesco Marra Primitivo

The Mediterranean covers areas like southern Italy, Spain, Greece and parts of France. These regions tend to experience hot, dry summers with high temperatures and many hours of sunshine. These are climate conditions that have a significant impact on viticulture and wine production. Salento, a region in southern Italy, located in the Puglia region, is known for its Mediterranean climate and, consequently, for producing rich, full-bodied wines. However, if we delve into the world of Francesco Marra, we realise that there are good things to be found in exceptions. An unusual man from Puglia who is shy and reserved, and along with his wife he champions the simplest expression. On their farm in the Ugento countryside, about 10 km from the Ionian Sea, they cultivate native varieties like Primitivo and Negroamaro, which are perfectly suited to the Mediterranean climate, to create pure and totally natural wines.

His Francesco Marra Primitivo is a single-variety wine made with Primitivo that grows in clay and ferrous soils. This is a red-coloured terroir typical of Salerno that is characterised by being poor in organic substances. The vines are cultivated completely organically, and the harvest is carried out manually when the grapes reach optimum ripeness. Once selected, the grapes ferment spontaneously in wooden vats for 15 hours. The wine then ages in stainless steel tanks for 18 months. Finally, it is bottled without being filtered, clarified or adding sulphites.

The result is Francesco Marra Primitivo, a red wine that, despite the concentration and high alcohol levels produced by the Mediterranean heat in Salento, reveals a softness, breadth and elegance of great purity.