Tarantino

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Terroir

• The vineyards are situated predominantly on hillside terrain, accounting for approximately 90% of the total, with an average altitude of 190–200 metres above sea level.
• The zone is poor in groundwater because the calcareous structure of the territory absorbs and disperses water through the phenomenon of karst drainage.
• The climate is typically Mediterranean, with rainfall concentrated between October and April, mild winters with the possibility of late frosts, and hot, dry summers.
• The prevailing winds blow from the north-west and are very cold; these are followed by warm, dry south-westerly winds known as favonio, which are well known to have adverse effects on crops.
• Soils range from clay-silt in the commune of Laterza and in the area around Taranto, to compact calcareous soils in the central zone of Massafra, Mottola, and Crispiano, to loose calcareous soils in the upper part of the area, and sandy-silt-clay soils in the agricultural territory of Ginosa and Palagianello.

• The introduction of viticultural and winemaking practices in the Taranto area was probably due to the Spartan colonists who founded the Greek city, and viticulture most likely played an important role on the medium-to-small estates of the chora during the fifth to third centuries BC.
• Grapes destined for wine were traditionally trained without supports — that is, as free-standing bush vines (alberello) — while certain highly prized varieties such as moscatellone and duraca were preferably grown in gardens, where the prized table grapes found support on the scenographic pergolas.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in Italy

Sources

• eAmbrosia register (EU) — File number PGI-IT-A0603