Vigneti del Salento Zolla Primitivo di Manduria

- Serve slightly chilled (around 16-18°C) to enhance fresh fruit character while retaining structure — perfect for spring or early summer evenings.

- Pair with rich rustic Southern Italian dishes like slow-cooked orecchiette with spicy pork ragù or grilled lamb chops rubbed with Mediterranean herbs and smoked paprika.

- Present in aged crystal glasses to highlight the wine’s deep color; accompany with a small side of roasted fig and black olive tapenade on crostini for a savory contrast.

- Use as a base for a sophisticated mulled wine by gently warming with cinnamon sticks star anise and a touch of orange zest during cooler gatherings.

- Offer alongside dark chocolate truffles infused with Sicilian sea salt and a hint of chili for an unexpected spicy-sweet finish.

- For a creative twist create a red wine reduction glaze with it to drizzle over duck breast or roasted root vegetables served family-style on a wooden board.

- Garnish the wine glass rim with a fine grind of pink peppercorns mixed with a little sea salt adding an aromatic peppery kick as you sip.

- Ideal for intimate outdoor dinners or vineyard-themed parties served with an antipasti platter featuring aged caciocavallo cheese sun-dried tomatoes and spicy ’nduja spread.

For storing red wine like Primitivo di Manduria maintain an optimal temperature between 55°F and 65°F (13°C to 18°C) to ensure balanced aging without premature aging or slowing the maturation process. Avoid temperature fluctuations as they can negatively affect the wine’s chemical stability.

Store the bottle in a dark environment away from direct sunlight or strong artificial light which can warm the wine and degrade its quality over time.

Keep the bottle sealed with its original cork to minimize oxidation and preserve flavors. Once opened re-cork tightly or use a vacuum wine stopper to reduce air exposure.

Store the bottle horizontally to keep the cork moist preventing it from drying out and shrinking which can let air in.

Maintain moderate humidity around 60-70% to avoid cork shrinkage and to protect the label and capsule integrity.

For opened bottles refrigeration at 40-45°F (4-7°C) slows oxidation and preserves wine quality for a few days; before serving bring it back to near optimal serving temperature (~60-65°F) by letting it stand at room temperature briefly.

Avoid vibrations strong odors and temperature extremes to maintain the wine’s quality throughout storage.