Description
The Salice Salentino PDO is reserved for the following types of wine: White, Red, Rosé, Spumante and Rosé Spumante; Liqueur (only with specification of grape variety). The Designation also incorporates numerous grape variety specifications.
Production Area
The production area of Salice Salentino PDO is within the territory of the municipalities of Salice Salentino, Veglie, Guagnano and parts of the municipality of Campi Salentina in the Province of Lecce, and within the municipalities of San Pancrazio Salentino, Sandonaci and parts of the municipality of Cellino San Marco in the Province of Brindisi, in the Apulia region.
Description of product typologies
Salice Salentino PDO Bianco is straw-yellow, varying in intensity and at times with greenish reflections; the nose displays intense fragrances of white fleshy fruit, with floral and aromatic herby sensations; it is fresh and harmonious on the palate, ranging from dry to medium-sweet. Salice Salentino PDO Rosso is ruby red, varying in intensity and at times with garnet red reflections on ageing; the nose offers complex fragrances of ripe red fruit, berries, leather and liquorice; it is on the full palate, ranging from dry to medium-sweet, robust yet velvety, warm and harmonious. It can display Riserva on the label if the wine has been aged for a minimum period of 24 months, of which at least 6 months must be in wooden barrels; the ageing period commences November 1st of the year in which the grapes were produced. Salice Salentino PDO Rosato is pink, varying in intensity; the nose reveals fragrances of fresh fruit and flowers; it is fresh and harmonious on the palate, ranging from dry to medium-sweet. Salice Salentino PDO Spumante is straw-yellow, varying in intensity, and has a fine, persistent perlage; the nose offers fruity hints and yeasty notes; it is fresh and harmonious on the palate, ranging from extra brut to extra dry. Salice Salentino PDO Spumante Rosé is pink, varying in intensity, and has a persistent perlage; the nose offers fruity notes which counterbalance the hints of bread crust; it is fresh and harmonious on the palate, ranging from extra brut to extra dry. Salice Salentino PDO wines with specification of grape variety have the organoleptic properties that are typical of the grapes and terroir of origin. White and rosé Salice Salentino PDO wines, with or without specification of grape variety, can be produced as Spumante wines through the natural secondary fermentation of the corresponding still wines in the bottle 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 following grape variety specifications. From white grape varieties: min. 85% Pinot Bianco (incl. Spumante) Fiano (incl. Spumante), Chardonnay (incl. Spumante), pure or with the addition of similarly-coloured grapes 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, Rosé Spumante), pure or with the addition of similarly-coloured 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. Salice Salentino PDO Negroamaro or Negro Amaro wines qualify as Riserva if they have been aged for minimum period of 24 months, of which at least 6 months must be in wooden barrels; Salice Salentino PDO Aleatico and Salice Salentino PDO Aleatico Liquoroso wines qualify as Riserva after an ageing period of 24 months. The ageing period for all of the 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 released for consumption before March 1st of the year following that in which the grapes were produced.
