TARANTO -- Some 20 million litres is the result of the 2016 harvest of the Primitivo di Manduria wine, a figure that will make 25 million bottles, an improvement of 10 to 12 percent compared to the year 2015. These are the official figures of the Consortium of Primitivo di Manduria’s grape harvest, taking its name from a town in the province of Taranto, Apulia

 "2016 is a five-star year which marked a surprising excellence in the quality of the fruit harvested,” states Roberto Erario, President of the Consortium. “The rain that has touched the vines did not cause damage because 80 percent of grapes had already been harvested. So quality and quantity are the values ​​of this vintage. An extraordinary result that I share with 27 producers thanking the great work done over the years and with 800 winegrowers whose role is crucial. "

 But where will the 25 million bottles of Primitivo di Manduria ‘travel?’ Besides Italy, they will be exported to many foreign countries (60-70 percent) -- United States, Canada and Europe and a large part is also China-bound.

 "The Manduria Primitive is winning lately, bottle after bottle, even in the oriental markets, where until a few years ago there wasn’t a great wine culture,” Erario continues. “But today we speak of conscious consumers, who only settle for a product of very high quality. "

 In addition to the Consortium’s role of supporting companies and penetrating foreign markets, the other target is to protect the product abroad, from abuse, acts of unfair competition and counterfeiting, all to safeguard this important Apulian denomination.

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