Where Italy's winesfind their character

Abundant sun, warm temperatures, red and calcareous soils and the proximity of the sea shape many wines from Puglia. Depending on grape and ageing, the result is fruit-forward, spicy and powerful wines that can still differ considerably.

Primitivo is one of the grapes that shape Puglia most. Typical are aromas of ripe dark fruit, warm spice and a full body. Style and sweetness vary, though, with origin and vinification.

Salento IGP is a protected geographical indication for wines from the southern part of Puglia. It denotes origin, not automatically a particular taste or a single grape variety.

Powerful reds from Puglia often suit braised dishes, grilled meat, hearty pasta and mature cheese. What matters is the intensity, seasoning and preparation of the dish; the specific recommendation is on each wine's own page.

Campania combines very different growing areas, altitudes and soils. Irpinia gives us Greco di Tufo and Aglianico among others, while Falanghina also plays an important role in the Beneventano. That variety produces very different wine characters.

Greco di Tufo often comes across as more structured, more mineral and more intense. Falanghina tends to be fresher, more fragrant and more approachable. The precise style always depends on origin, vintage and ageing.

Falanghina is among the oldest grape varieties of Campania and is especially widespread in the Beneventano. Our Falanghina grows there in the hills — fresh, fragrant and Mediterranean in expression.

Aglianico is a major red grape of southern Italy. “Il Rosso” by Maria Maria is 100 % Aglianico – not a blend – and stands for a characterful red wine style with structure and spicy depth.

The Lugana wine area lies on the southern shore of Lake Garda and extends across parts of Lombardy and the Veneto. The delimited DOC zone includes areas in the provinces of Brescia and Verona. Pozzolengo is one of the places where the clay-rich moraine soils and the influence of the lake are felt most strongly.

The principal grape of Lugana DOC is Turbiana, locally also called Trebbiano di Lugana. Under the production rules, Lugana DOC must consist of at least 90 per cent Turbiana; other permitted non-aromatic white varieties may together account for no more than 10 per cent. In the character of the wine, Turbiana is clearly at the centre.

Lugana often shows fresh, elegant and finely mineral, with aromas of citrus, white blossom and, depending on style, riper orchard fruit. Age, ageing method and vintage all shape the profile.

Lugana is often seen as a fresh wine for the aperitif. Daniele Malavasi, however, points to its structure, salinity and capacity to develop. It is exactly those qualities that make it a versatile white for the table — one that works across a menu, not just before it.

Lugana suits fish from Lake Garda, risotto, creamy whipped stockfish and white meat in light sauces. What matters is less a fixed rule than the balance between freshness, salinity and the texture of the dish.

If Lugana is served too cold, the very qualities that define its identity come through less clearly: salinity, minerality and aromatic finesse. It should therefore not reach the glass ice-cold. The exact serving temperature depends on the style and the producer's recommendation.