The flat, fertile region along Italy’s southern Adriatic coast, producer of substantial quantities of wine, much of it destined for the blending and Vermouth industries. The climate here is hot, arid Mediterranean, the soil calcareous, ideal conditions for vine growing. There are around 250,000 acres under vine, much of it high-yielding Trebbiano, Sangiovese and Montepulciano. Co-operatives dominate, and quality is often undistinguished at best. This is typical Italian industrial winemaking country, with only a tiny proportion of the output at DOC level, and for the most part of no interest to us. However, some good wines are made on the Salento peninsula from the Negomaro, Primitivo and the less well-known Uva di Troia varieties, and there are a number of DOCs and IGTs devoted to these varieties here. The climate on the peninsula benefits from the moderating influences of both Adriatic and Ionian seas. The western side of the Salento peninsula particularly is the source of some , juicily fresh and spicily attractive wines made from the Primitivo grape.