Bombino Nero Rosé "Pungirosa" 2022, Rivera

Bombino Nero is a difficult grape to grow because it ripens unevenly. It is also not well suited to making single-varietal red wines because it ripens quite late and is very high in polyphenols. The length of maceration time required to make a red wine from the grape would yield such bitter tannins that the resulting wine would be undrinkable. Instead, pretty much all Bombino Nero is made into rosé wines. This is a Castel del Monte Bombino Nero DOCG wine, and is actually the only rosé wine given DOCG status in all of Italy.

With a purple-flecked onion skin color, Pungirosa has a delicate bouquet with notes of wild rose and cherry, and a crisp yet smooth palate. It is well balanced, with a subtle vein of acidity and a lengthy, juicy finish. A great aperitivo wine, but also exceptional with lighter dishes.

About the Winery

The winery bears the name of the noble Rivera family (who farmed the property for centuries prior), but it has been owned and operated by the De Corato family since 1921. Beginning with Giusseppe a farmer with entrepreneurial spirit and then into the hands of Sebastiano his visionary son, followed by his son Carlo and now 100 years later to the current generation brothers Marco & Sebastiano. Needless to say, Pugliese winemaking is in the blood. Located in the Castel del Monte area, the estate vineyards span 75 hectares and are planted to many native vines like Nero di Troia, 
Bombino Bianco & Bombino Nero. Stretching down the peninsula into Manduria & Salento they source fruit from age-old growing partners for their Primitivo & Negroamaro, which are better suited in the hot and dry plains that slope toward the sea. Over the years each generation contributes something new to push the family business into the modern era be it solar energy or temp-controlled cement tanks, yet never losing sight of traditional varieties and winemaking known in the territory.