Aperitivo Pugliese

Shipping included!

Two bottle shipment with snacks, host Aperitivo Hour with your friends!

Serves up to 8 people

Each region and town even, has their own version of the Aperitivo (pre-dinner snacks and drinks). In Puglia, taralli are a must! In this basket, taralli are accompanied by Libera Terra's* sott'olio goodies: carcfiofi (marinated artichokes) and pomodorini (little tomatoes).

The violetto carciofo (artichoke) is the prized purple artichoke from Italy. These are perfectly cooked and marinated and maintain a little crunch to them. Perfect on salads, but because they are not over cooked and soft, you can also throw them into the bottom of the pan with the roast potatoes! *chef kiss

Included are two boutique bottlings, one white Verdeca from I Pastini located in the higher elevations of the Valle d'Itria and one aged red Negroamaro from Cantina Sociale Cupertinum in the Salento in southern Puglia. 

*Libera Terra is a non profit organization that rehabilitates seized Mafia land, providing living wage jobs and education to the community. These products grow in these seized terrains, and damn, social justice never tasted so good! Libera Terra items are a Cittavino & Co. direct import exclusive, you won't find them anywhere else in the US.

About the wines...

I Pastini make such a bright fresh Verdeca, you would almost think it is not from this tropical like land. Herbaceous, tart citrus fruit, whiff of kiwi and a touch floral.

I Pàstini is a small, family-run winery in the Valle d’Itria in eastern central Puglia. Founded by Gianni Carparelli and his father Donato, they grow their grapes on land their ancestors worked: a beautiful limestone plateau overlooking the Adriatic Sea that is co-planted to ancient, (multi-millennia old!), olive groves. They are certified organic and use native yeasts in the cellars.

Cupertino, or Copertino, is a town within the province of Lecce (it's twin city is Cupertino, CA!) Initially established as a farmer stronghold against the Arab occupation in 950CE, the town developed under the Normans and became a significant commercial trading area. They left their legacy in the Castello di Copertino, one of the largest fortresses in Puglia.

This producer is a coop of 300 growers. Coops in Italy are actually a great way for a region to gain notoriety and throughout the country they are associated with high quality wine (Produttori di Barbaresco, Cave Cooperatives de Donnas...). For a small zone like Copertino, joining the coop may be the only way to actually get your wine  out there!

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