One of the most renowned and famous appellations in the southern Italian region of Puglia, the DOP Castel del Monte is located around the magnificent Castel del Monte, built in the 13th century in the centre of the northern part of the region by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The DOP Castel del Monte was established in 1971.
The vineyards are located at an altitude of between 180 and 450 metres above sea level. The DOP Castel del Monte area is characterised by a dry, Mediterranean climate with rainfall largely concentrated in the autumn-winter period.
The Castel del Monte DOP allows the use of international grape varieties such as Chardonnay for the production of white wines and Cabernet Sauvignon for red wines. Italian grape varieties are given pride of place with Bombino Bianco and Pampanuto for the whites, while the reds can be produced from Aglianico and Montepulciano. The Bombino Nero variety is particularly used for rosé wines. Nero di Troia is an indigenous and local grape variety par excellence and is frequently used for the production of red wines. Introduced in 2011, the Castel del Monte Rosso Riserva designation is only granted to wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Aglianico.
The DOP Castel del Monte stands out for the production of its harmonious and fruity red wines, while the white wines offer delicate aromas and freshness on the palate.
