Matane’ Primitivo

Neil, Maria, and Tara Empson had long been looking for the right terroir in Puglia, when they discovered some of its finest and oldest vineyards. After tasting the silky, seductive, structured gems of this sunny region they set about finalizing the Matané project which was named after Maria, Tara and Neil. The Matané packaging correspondingly pays homage to Salento and depicts one of its symbols, a traditional local dance called pizzica. In ancient times, the pizzica was a ritual dance connected to Dionysus (a.k.a. Bacchus), the god of wine: a heritage from neighboring Greece and its settlers in Apulia. The poem inscribed on the labels of Matané wines tells about the celebrations that happen during the harvest time: every night, after the harvest, locals get together and dance under the moonlight to celebrate the grapes that will soon become wine.

This particular wine highlights the vibrancy of Puglia’s native Primitivo. This indigenous grape variety is DNA acknowledged as the fore-father of California’s Zinfandel. The nose bursts with ripe raspberries and blackberries, layered with earthy undertones, dried herbs, and a floral lift. On the palate, it’s all about richness and concentration—candied figs, dark cherries, and a subtle spice glide seamlessly, framed by gentle tannins and a lively acidity that keeps everything in balance.