We discovered this wine by chance on one of our wine tours. Our oenologists love to roam the European wine countries, discovering the finest wines. We stray from the beaten path and therefore often encounter the most impressive wines. This was the case with Paralupi Appassimento, discovered in the deep south of Italy. After a single sip in the charming tasting room of the Varvaglione winery, we were immediately convinced of the power of Paralupi Appassimento.
The Italian wine Paralupi Appassimento
Those who travel the small, winding country roads of Puglia are often in for a surprise. Suddenly, on our left, a dazzling winery appears, its architectural details almost resembling a medieval castle. We're greeted in the driveway by Anna, who kindly tells us the history, present, and future of Varvaglione. She explains that the Varvaglione family has been crafting their superb wines here since 1921. In honor of their centennial, new wines have been developed and added to the range, including the Paralupi Appassimento.
Paralupi Appassimento is made from the three great Puglian wines: Malvasia Nera, Primitivo, and Negroamaro. Anna also tells us the story behind Paralupi Appassimento. Paralupi is named after an old phenomenon where a special guardhouse was used to chase wolves away from the vineyards. Paralupi literally means "against the wolves." To honor this aspect of Puglian viticulture, the Varvaglione winery decided to name this wine Paralupi Appassimento.
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This red wine uses the Appassimento technique. The Malvasia Nera, Primitivo, and Negroamaro are dried before being pressed. The grapes lose a lot of juice in this process, but the remaining juice is extremely concentrated, giving Paralupi Appassimento an incredibly deep and complex flavor. Think of deep black fruit, which goes hand in hand with nuances of licorice, dark chocolate, tobacco, and a hint of vanilla. In every respect, Paralupi Appassimento is a successful wine, perfectly embodying the contemporary high quality of Puglia. Our guide, Anna, rightly chooses Paralupi Appassimento as her favorite wine and spontaneously starts dancing as soon as the extra bottle of this excellent wine is opened.