2019 Barbanera Ngudra Primitivo del Salento

At the foot of mount Cetona, in southern Tuscany, you’ll find a charming and highly awarded family-owned winery called Barbanera. This estate dates back to 1938 when Altero Barbanera and his wife Maria Franceschini decided to test their luck and adventure their way into wine. It wasn’t an easy journey, (let’s not forget that during this year, Italy was undergoing the fascist regime,) however, the dream, which has always been driven by passion and ambition, finally paid off, and Barbanera soon became a leading winery in Italy. Today, the winery is operated by fifth-generation sisters, Sophia and Agnes.

Barbanera has been achieving many recognitions throughout the years. In 2020, they were awarded “Best Design,” and “Best Innovation” of still red wines by VINI & CONSUMI. This same year, they were named (for the 4th year in a row) the “Best Italian Wine Producer” in the quantity-quality category by Luca Maroni. And in 2022 they were recognized as the “Best medium-sized company for management and financial reliability” in Siena, on the 41st edition of the INDUSTRIA FELIX Award, not to mention the numerous medals and 90+ points granted by some of the world's leading wine critics. (Just to give you an idea, only in 2021, more than 200 of their wines were awarded 90+ points.)  

Barbanera’s vineyards are situated in some of the best appellations in Tuscany like Chianti, Vino Nobile, and Brunello, and some in Puglia. The estate follows sustainable and responsible viticulture, and they’ve achieved several certifications like IFS (International Food Standard), BRC (Global Standard for Food Safety), and ISO 14001, among others.

Barbanera is an “ethically and technologically advanced company” that, thanks to its impressive quality and amazing value, has managed to position itself among the best wineries in Tuscany and the whole country. We're proud to announce that Barbanera is a BHW direct import.

Ngudrà, in the Apulian dialect, means “encounter:”  Ngudrà is the “connection between passion and experience,” its history and culture transformed in a bottle of wine, and it is the expression of the strong and unique territory where the grapes are sourced from in Salento.

Salento is a rich and exotic region, also known as the land "of the two seas,” thanks to its location between the Ionian Sea and the Adriatic Sea, this enviable area is highly influenced by the ocean breeze, delivering stunning, rich, unique wines.

Barbanera selects only the best Primitivo grapes from their Salento vineyards to produce Ngudrà. The bunches are hand-harvested at the optimal state of ripeness, resulting in this top-quality Primitivo.

Primitivo from the Adriatic coast is the original progenitor of the Zinfandel clone. You'll recognize the style as big on red and blue fruits and it takes on a healthy dose of chocolate, raspberry, oak, and vanilla. Old vines make this wine particularly plush, svelte, and deep in flavor.

Aging: 9 months in French oak barrels.

Tasting Notes: 100% Primitivo. This wine reveals a deeply red color with purple hues. The bouquet is rich, complex, and broad, where clear fruity scents of plum, morello cherry, blueberry, and wild berries jam are perfectly woven together with toasted hints, cocoa beans, and coffee. The broad and enveloping palate, with a structured but delicate tannin, leads to a persistent and juicy finish. This is the perfect wine to pair with red meats, grilled meat and vegetables, typical Italian cuisine, flavorful sauces, a romantic evening in front of the fireplace, and good chats with friends.