Borgo dei Trulli Mirea, Primitivo di Manduria DOP

Description

Borgo dei Trulli Mirea is a red wine, a Primitivo di Manduria. The grapes come from Trulli’s own estate vineyards in the Comune of Maruggio, Puglia, Southern Italy. The 2022 vintage is bottled at a whopping 17.5% ABV and is available to buy now at Fareham Wine Cellar.

An Orion Wines Project

Masseria Borgo dei Trulli, to give its full name, is a wine venture operated by Orion Wines, a company created to bring together interesting wines from small growers and wineries from all over Italy. Founded by Luca Pomaro and winemaker Alessandro Michelon, the company focuses on crafting wines from native grape varieties that showcase the authentic character of their specific regional terroir. They have developed strong relationships with many growers who have also embraced Orion Wines’ philosophy of vineyard management and cultivating techniques.

Masseria Borgo dei Trulli Estate

The Masseria Borgo dei Trulli estate is located in the heart of Salento and is owned and managed by Orion wines with Alessandro Michelon as head winemaker. Around 80% of the wine produced at the estate is red wine produced from the Negroamaro and Primitivo grape varieties, with some white wine produced, including Vermentino and Fiano.

The grapes are sourced from old vines grown in either the Alberello Pugliese method or the Espalier method, from vineyards in the communes of  Sava, Manduria and Maruggio, in the province of Taranto. The company also has vineyards in the commune of Guagnago, in the province of Lecce, where Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera are grown for the production of Salice Salentino. They also produce a Gin and an excellent Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Borgo dei Trulli Mirea Primitivo di Manduria

This wine is made from 100% Primitivo grapes, which are hand-harvested and sorted. The vines are trained into the  “Alberello Pugliese” system (see below) and are over 60 years old. The average yield is less than 600g per vine. The grapes are harvested in mid-September, when the grapes are over-ripe and have begun a natural “appassimento” on the vine.

Vinification

• The Primitivo grapes are not crushed, allowing them to remain intact, reducing damage to the skins and optimising colour extraction.n
• Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature of 23-25°C for 8-10 days.
• The wine undergoes frequent remontage and delestage are carried out during the fermentation to extract, but soften the tannins.
• After racking, malolactic fermentation (MLF) is induced.
• After MLF, the wine is racked and 40% is matured in first and second-fill French oak barriques for 10 months.

What is Alberello Pugliese?

Alberello Pugliese is a traditional vine training system used in Puglia. Using this method, the vines are trained as low, free-standing bushes without trellises or wires and are typically spaced 2 to 3 meters apart to allow good air circulation. This ancient technique suits Puglia’s hot, dry climate and poor soils. It is a labour-intensive method, but it is ideal for producing quality wines with good ripeness and intensity.