Description
The Salice Salentino PDO is reserved for the following typologies of wine: White, Red, Rosé, Spumante and Spumante Rosé; Liqueur (only with indication of grape variety). The Designation also incorporates numerous grape variety specifications.
Production Area
The production area of Salice Salentino PDO is within the entire territory of the Municipalities of Salice Salentino, Veglie, Guagnano and parts of the Municipality of Campi Salentina in the Province of Lecce; within the entire territory of the municipalities of San Pancrazio Salentino, Sandonaci and parts of the Municipalities of Cellino San Marco in the Province of Brindisi, in the Apulia region.
Blends
White, Spumante: min. 70% Chardonnay, pure or with the addition of grape berries similar in colour and originating from other grape varieties suitable for cultivation in the concerned area, max. 30%, with the exclusion of Moscato Bianco and Moscatello Selvatico Bianco. Red (incl. Riserva), Rosé, Spumante Rosé: min. 75% Negroamaro, pure or with the addition of grape berries similar in colour and originating from other grape varieties suitable for cultivation in the concerned area, max. 25%.
Description of product typologies
Salice Salentino PDO Bianco is straw-yellow in colour, at times with greenish highlights; the nose displays intense fragrances of white fleshy fruit, with floral and herby aromatic sensations; it is rich, complex, fresh and harmonious on the palate. Salice Salentino PDO Rosso has a ruby-red colour, at times with garnet highlights after aging; the nose offers complex fragrances of ripe red fruit, fruits of the forest, leather and liquorice; it is warm, complex and rich on the palate, with a long and aromatic persistence. It can display Riserva on the label if the wine has been aged for a minimum period of 2 years, of which at least 6 months must be in wooden barrels; the aging period commences November 1st of the year in which the grapes were produced. Salice Salentino PDO Rosé varies from coral-pink to cherry-pink in colour; the nose reveals fragrances of fresh fruit and flowers with spicy suggestions; it is fresh, and sapid on the palate, with a long fruity finish. Salice Salentino PDO Spumante is bright straw-yellow in colour and has a fine and persistent perlage; the nose offers delicate fruity hints and characteristic notes of yeast; it is fresh and harmonious on the palate, with a pleasant tart note and a characteristic finish. Salice Salentino PDO Spumante Rosé varies from pale to coral-pink in colour and is characterised by an extremely persistent perlage; the olfactory vein of the nose reveals fresh fruity notes which highlight the aromas of bread crust; the palate displays good acidity and freshness. Salice Salentino PDO wines with indication of grape variety have the organoleptic characteristics that are typical of the grapes and terroir of origin. Salice Salentino PDO Bianco and Rosé wines, with or without indication of grape variety, can be produced as Spumante wines with the fermentation of the corresponding still wines, through natural secondary fermentation in bottles or autoclaves; the addition of any type of carbon dioxide is not permitted. Gasification must take place within the production area.
Grape variety specifications
The Salice Salentino PDO may display the specifications of the following grape varieties. From white grape varieties: min. 85% Pinot Bianco (incl. Spumante) Fiano (incl. Spumante), Chardonnay (incl. Spumante), pure or with the addition of grape berries similar in colour and originating from other grape varieties suitable for cultivation in the concerned area, max. 15%, with the exclusion of Moscato Bianco and Moscatello Selvatico Bianco. From red grape varieties: Aleatico (incl. Riserva, Dolce, Liquoroso Dolce, Riserva Liquoroso), with the possible addition of Negroamaro, Malvasia Nera and Primitivo, max. 15%; min. 90% Negroamaro (incl. Riserva, Rosé, Spumante Rosé), pure or with the addition of grape berries similar in colour and originating from other grape varieties suitable for cultivation in the concerned area, max. 10%. The characteristics of the colour, fragrances and flavour of each specification are those typical of the grape variety and terroir of origin. Salice Salentino PDO Negroamaro or Negro Amaro wines qualify as Riserva wines if they have been aged for minimum period of 24 months, of which at least 6 months must be in wooden barrels; for Salice Salentino PDO Aleatico and Salice Salentino PDO Aleatico Liquoroso Riserva wines the aging period is 24 months. The aging period for all typologies of Riserva wines commences November 1st of the year in which the grapes were produced, with the exception of Aleatico Liquoroso which begins from the date of alcoholisation. Salice Salentino PDO wines cannot be made available for consumption before March 1st of the year following that in which the grapes were produced.
