2022 Zolla Malvasia Nera, Vigneti del Salento

• Style: Ruby-bright, ripe and structured
• Taste: Cherry and clove spice with saline minerality
• Food: Roasted lamb, aged cheese, spiced pasta
• Occasion: Weeknight or Sunday lunch
• Serve: 14–16°C, 2–3 hours after opening

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Ripe cherry and warming clove emerge on the nose, underpinned by saline minerality that reflects the Ionian Sea's influence on these eastern Taranto vineyards. The palate is soft and approachable, yet built on a framework of freshness and grip that sustains every sip. At 14.5% alcohol, this wine balances generosity with restraint.

The Winery — Vigneti del Salento

Part of the Fantini group since 1994, Vigneti del Salento operates from two wineries in Taranto province on the western flank of Salento. Resident winemaker Danilo Gizzi and consultant Filippo Baccalaro—a Piemontese native with nearly two decades in Puglia—shape these wines with minimal technological intervention but considerable expertise. Baccalaro was drawn to the region by its rich, ripe grape flavours, which he captures through transparent winemaking. The 2022 vintage benefited from generous rainfall and a warmer June, yielding healthy fruit with character to spare. A short maceration, controlled fermentation, and four to five months in used American and French oak allow the wine to express its site and variety, not technique.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

This is food-friendly red wine in its truest sense. Pair it with roasted lamb, aged Pecorino, wild boar ragù, spiced tomato-based sauces, grilled vegetables, or mushroom risotto. The Malvasia Nera sits comfortably between the everyday and the special—equally at home on a weeknight table or as part of a Sunday lunch gathering. The red clay soils of Italy's Salento Peninsula, iron-rich and mineral-dense, naturally suit this grape, and Vigneti del Salento captures that terroir expression with restraint and soul. If you haven't yet ventured into Malvasia Nera, this is a compelling entry point to regional character and an exemplary wine alongside the rest of our Salento collection.