If it seems like everyone and their mother is in Puglia this summer for vacation, you're not imagining things. From Hollywood celebrities, to Airbnb location hunters, to Italian food lovers, everyone seems to be in love with Puglia right now.
Located on the heel of Italy's boot, along the Adriatic Coast, Puglia's cuisine and culture is having its moment in the spotlight and for good reason: the food is delicious and the wines are both unique and inexpensive. Puglia is also carb heaven: from succulent focaccia, to olive oil-baked taralli, to the famous Pane di Altamura bread, not to mention all the delicious local seafood and olive groves. Snacking and sipping on a cold bottle of vino bianco go hand in hand in the southland.
If you're in the mood for something uniquely Puglian and a wine that transcends its price point, let us introduce you to our new favorite Italian bargain: the 2022 Masseria Furfante Bombino Bianco, from one of our favorite Italian importers Oliver McCrum.
Unlike southern Puglia where the heat is stronger and the wines have higher alcohol levels, Masseria Furfante's vineyards are in the north of Puglia and–due to southwest facing hills and cooler winds–the Bombino Bianco grapes retain their crisp acidity and are harvested much later in the growing season. The 2022 is full of citrus and mineral notes, similar to a cool climate Chardonnay, but with the ripeness of fruit more reminiscent of a Pinot Grigio.
For those of you buying cheap bottles of supermarket Pinot Grigio to get you through the dog days of summer, we invite you to sample this Puglian Bombino Bianco as a more exciting alternative. Open a jar of olives, heat up some focaccia, crack the lid on some tinned fish, and pretend you're in Puglia for the rest of August!