2023 Produttori di Manduria Primitivo 'Electric Bee'

100% Primitivo. Farming is certified organic and 3E certified (by Equalitas, for farming + carbon footprint + fair trade practices). Hand picked, fermented in steel and aged briefly in stainless steel. 13% alcohol. 

Primitivo is usually known for full bodied, rich, dark and savory red wines- this is the total opposite! There’s no winemaking stats to be found, but I assume this is made with some carbonic maceration to hihglight the fruit and soften the tannins. Dry but fruity, medium bodied and smooth, with red cherries, red plums, blackberries,  and a hint of spice. Fruitier and more acidic than the Negroamaro. To highlight the crisp acidity and bright berry fruit, serve the wine slightly chilled. 

Produttori di Manduria is the oldest active wine cooperative in Puglia. It was first established in 1928 as “Federazione Vini di Manduria” and then converted in to a cooperative in 1932 as “Consorzio Vini e Mosti di Manduria”. A native of the area and one of the most renowned Apulian Winemakers (working for historical producers like Candido and Leone De Castris), Leonardo Pinto has worked as the consulting winemaker at Produttori di Manduria for over 20 years. Despite being in one of the major wine producing regions in Italy (Puglia usually ranks 2nd or 3rd in the national ranking in terms of wine produced), Produttori di Manduria is structured and operates like an Alto Adige cooperative, with 400 small growers farming 2,500 acres of vineyards. With an average of six acres per member, each grower is able to carry out most of the vineyard management by hand with an extreme attention to quality.