Negroamaro

Negroamaro, sometimes written Negro Amaro, dark-skinned southern Italian grape variety that fell victim to the EU vine pull schemes with the total area planted falling from 31,000 ha/76,500 acres in 1990 to just 11,460 ha/28,318 acres by 2010. It is particularly associated with the eastern half of the Salento peninsula, in the provinces of Lecce and Brindisi, where it forms the base, blended with small proportions of Malvasia Nera and (not necessarily legally) the more structured Primitivo, for docs such as Salice Salentino, Copertino, Brindisi, Leverano, and Squinzano. It is later ripening than Primitivo, with chunkier tannins. It is also used to produce some lively rosé. For more details, see puglia. The name means ‘dark, bitter’ but the wines are sometimes a bit soft.