Castel del Monte Rosso Riserva

Red blend with minimum 65% Nero di Troia. Aged 24 months (12 in wood). The Murge plateau terroir and extended aging produce complex, structured reds with dark fruit, leather, and Mediterranean herbs.

Castel del Monte Rosso Riserva's history begins in the Castel del Monte area of Puglia, where the blend of Nero di Troia and other varieties has been practiced for centuries. The region's unique terroir—calcareous and clay soils, Mediterranean climate, and warm, sunny conditions—creates wines with distinctive structure and complexity. The appellation received formal recognition in 1971 as DOC, then elevation to DOCG in 2011, codifying the production zone in the Castel del Monte area and quality standards. Castel del Monte Rosso Riserva's distinctive character comes from the region's unique terroir—calcareous and clay soils—which creates wines with structure and complexity. The wine's international reputation grew in the 2010s, when it became recognized as one of Puglia's finest reds, celebrated for its structure and quality. Today, Castel del Monte Rosso Riserva represents one of Puglia's most prestigious red wines, with the wine's structure and complexity making it perfect for refined cuisine and cellaring.

Castel del Monte Rosso Riserva production follows DOCG regulations. The wine must contain minimum 65% Nero di Troia, with up to 35% other authorized red varieties (Montepulciano, Aglianico, etc.). Harvest typically occurs in late September to early October, when grapes have achieved optimal ripeness. The grapes are harvested by hand, then destemmed and crushed before transfer to fermentation vessels. Fermentation occurs at controlled temperatures (25-28°C) with maceration on skins for 15-20 days, extracting maximum color, tannin, and structure. The wine must age minimum 2 years before release (18 months in wood), with Riserva requiring 3 years minimum aging (24 months in wood). Traditional producers favor large Slavonian oak botti, while modernists may use French barriques. The wine must achieve minimum 13% alcohol and pass quality controls. The wine's structure and complexity come from the region's unique terroir—calcareous and clay soils—which creates wines with distinctive character.

Castel del Monte Rosso Riserva represents Puglia's winemaking tradition, a wine that demonstrates the region's capacity for producing structured, complex reds. In Puglian homes and restaurants, Castel del Monte Rosso Riserva flows at refined meals, its structure and complexity making it a prized wine. For Puglians, Castel del Monte Rosso Riserva represents the region's unique terroir, a wine that honors the Nero di Troia blend tradition while expressing the Castel del Monte area's distinctive character.