Tormaresca Castel Del Monte Bocca Di Lupo 2006 750ml

Winery: Tormaresca

Varietal: Aglianico

Aglianico is a black skinned grape most commonly associated with the exquisite wines of the Campania region of Italy. It thrives most happily in hot and dry climates, and as such, has had plenty of success in the New World, particularly in the United States, where it is used to great effect in many red wines. It was believed to come from Greece several thousand years ago, brought by Pheonician tradesman, and was wildly popular in Roman times, when it was used in the finest wines made by the Roman empire. Aglianico grapes produce full bodied red wines which have a high tannin and acid content. As such, it has excellent ageing potential, and with a standard amount of time in a barrel, it rounds out and mellows to produce beautifully balanced wines.

Region: Puglia

Puglia is one of Italy's most fascinating and 'up and coming' wine regions, and is full of traditional wineries keen to prove to the world that the produce of southern Italy can more than match that which comes from the central and northern regions of the country. Puglian wines are quite unique; they are generally big, bold and boisterous when it comes to flavor and structure, and are packed full of complex, dark and interesting notes, making them fascinating to taste and explore. Puglia itself is a beautiful wine region, and the volcanic soils and blazing sunshine of the Mediterranean coast is something of an ideal environment for viticulture. As such, Puglia is a region to keep a close eye on in the near future, should you wish to sample the best of Italy's latest, most exciting wines.

Country: Italy

It isn't difficult to understand why Italy is famed not just for the quality of its wines, but also for the vast variety and range of characteristics found in the wines there. The terrain of the country varies wildly, from the lush rolling green hills and valley of Tuscany, to the sun drenched rocky coasts of Sicily, the mountainous and alpine regions of the north, and the marshy lowlands of the east. Italy really does have a little bit of everything. Combine this huge range of landscapes with an almost perfect climate for grape cultivation, and you have a country seemingly designed for viticultural excellence. The results speak for themselves, and it is clear to see that wine has become an inseparable part of Italian culture as a result of its abundance and brilliance. Each village, city and region has a local wine perfectly matched with the cuisine of the area, and not an evening passes without the vast majority of Italian families raising a glass of locally sourced wine with pride and pleasure.