Salento

Established in 1999 across 145 municipalities in Puglia, including Alessano, the Salento PGI distinguishes its wine production through highly tailored yield caps. While generic black-grape varieties can reach yields of 23 tonnes per hectare, the regulation restricts Primitivo to a lower maximum of 17 tonnes per hectare to preserve its concentration. This denomination also uniquely permits drying grapes directly on the vine—an appassimento anche sulla pianta process—specifically for passito styles, which reduces the finished wine yield to 50 percent. This flexible but precise viticultural standard shapes the diverse, aromatic wines that define Italy's southern heel.