Primitivo

Primitivo is by no means primitive. The name comes from the Latin "primativus", which means “the first to ripen”. Thus a botanist named the grapes when he discovered them in 1799 in southern Italy. Their stronghold is in Apulia, but they originally came from Croatia, where they are known as Tribidrag. The Greek word means exactly the same thing: early ripening. With its exuberant berry fruit, spice and exciting fresh acidity, the Primitivo is the perfect pizza wine. Incidentally, Californians also drink Zinfandel with their pizza. This is a synonym for an identical grape, even if there are vintners on both sides of the ocean who do not want to admit it...