Primitivo Grape Varietal Definition

By Gayot Editors

Primitivo is an Italian grape varietal used to make dark red wines with bold and fruity flavors. Some have thought that Primitivo is related to Zinfandel, but it has now been shown that the latter is related to a Croatian varietal.

Primitivo is believed to have originated in Greece. It is not known exactly how or when this varietal arrived in Italy, but its history there dates back many centuries. It was named “Primitivo” by Benedictine monks because of its tendency to ripen early. Today, it is grown primarily in the Apulia region of Southern Italy.