TENUTE CHIAROMONTE

Wines by Tenute Chiaromonte

A passion for Apulia’s local vine, Primitivo, has been passed down through three generations and now winemaker Nicola Chiaromonte runs the family estate with the perfect mix of tradition and innovation. His award-wining, masterfully crafted wines are a celebration of the native grape variety – a bush-trained vine that can be found nestled among olive trees and dry-stone walls and is affectionately known as the King of Apulia, PRIMITIVO (aka Zinfandel).

When Nicola’s grandfather began cultivating his Gioia del Colle three-hectare farm in 1826, he knew the land was special. The hot Mediterranean climate, with hours of sunshine and cooling sea breezes, encourages prolific vine growth. The estate was passed down to Nicola’s father who was raised to appreciate and respect the soil and terrain, and who went on to teach Nicola that “the earth is different one inch from another, each one producing a different product. ... that diversity is a sort of richness and a resource which increases the value of human work”. When Nicola took the reins in 1998, he gradually expanded the estate to its current 32 hectares and it now features cherry orchards, olive groves and the vineyard known as Alberello Pugliese (little Apulian tree).

The Tenute Chiaromonte winery is expertly guided by Nicola’s innovative spirit. The vineyards are strictly organic and the focus is on presenting the Primitivo grape as naturally as possible, so that wine enthusiasts might come to know the real essence of the vine and the land where it thrives. Nicola researches and experiments with the winemaking process, from cultivation methods to fermentation, temperatures and the types of barrels used for ageing. Not long ago, only a very small percentage of Apulian wines were DOC quality, but today the region is flourishing and, thanks to energetic and inspired winemakers like Nicola Chiaromonte, Primitivo is finally fulfilling its potential and is now appreciated as a truly regal grape.