Description
The Castel del Monte PDO is reserved for the following types of wine: White, Red, Rosé, Spumante, Rosé Spumante and Novello. The Designation also incorporates numerous grape variety specifications.
Production Area
The production area of Castel del Monte PDO is within the territory of numerous municipalities in the provinces of Barletta-Andria-Trani and Bari, in the Apulia region.
Description of product typologies
Castel del Monte PDO Bianco is straw-yellow, varying in depth; the nose opens with a wide range of floral and fruity fragrances which vary depending on the predominant grape variety; it is fresh and sapid on the palate, but also rounded and compact. It can also be a semi-sparkling wine. Castel del Monte PDO Rosso is ruby red, varying in intensity; hints of ripe red fruit and spices dominate the nose, with an aromatic elegance enriched by the most predominant grape variety; it is rich and complex on the palate, with good tannic structure. Castel del Monte PDO Rosato is pink, varying in intensity, with ruby red hues; it is pleasant on the nose, with characteristic fruity fragrances; it is dry and harmonious on the palate. Castel del Monte PDO Spumante is straw-yellow, varying in intensity, with possible golden reflections and a fine and persistent perlage; the nose is complex, fragrant and characteristic of secondary fermentation; it is fresh, sapid, fine and harmonious on the palate. Castel del Monte PDO Spumante Rosé is pink, varying in intensity, with fine and persistent foam; the nose is complex, fragrant and characteristic of secondary fermentation; it is fresh on the palate, with vanillery hints of raspberry and blackcurrant, ranging from harmonious to semi-sweet. Castel del Monte PDO Novello is ruby red, varying in intensity; it displays pleasant, intense and fruity notes on the nose; the flavour ranges from dry to mouth-filling on the palate. Spumante wines can be produced through the secondary fermentation of the base wine, or the fermentation of musts; the formation of bubbles can take place in autoclaves or in the bottle.
Geographical and sub-area specifications
Additional geographical specifications may be displayed on the labels of Castel del Monte PDO wines.
Grape variety specifications
The Castel del Monte PDO may display the following grape variety specifications. From white grape varieties: min 90% Sauvignon (incl. Semi-Sparkling), Chardonnay (incl. Semi-Sparkling), Bombino Bianco (incl. Spumante, Semi-Sparkling), pure or with the addition of similarly-coloured unaromatic grapes originating from other grape varieties suitable for cultivation in the concerned area, max. 10%. From red grape varieties: min. 90% Aglianico (incl. Rosé, Riserva), Cabernet (Franc and/or Sauvignon), Nero di Troia, pure or with the addition of similarly-coloured unaromatic grapes 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. Castel del Monte PDO Aglianico and Castel del Monte PDO Cabernet Riserva wines must have undergone a mandatory ageing period of at least 2 years, of which one year must have been in wooden barrels, commencing November 1st of the year following that of the harvest.
Additional specifications
The Castel del Monte PDO designation can be followed by the specification Vigna (Vineyard) with the relative toponym.
