What is Negroamarao?

Negroamaro is a red grape variety from southern Italy renowned for its full-bodied character. It is usually blended, either with softer local varieties or adding weight to anaemic wines further north. 

What does Negroamaro taste like?  

Negroamaro wines are full-bodied with bold flavours of ripe – sometimes over-ripe – cherry and damson fruit. Tannins range considerably from velvety to chewy. There may also be flavours of dried herbs, chocolate and liquorice. Negroamaro also makes a deep-coloured rosé, full of bright berry fruit. 

Where is Negroamaro from?  

Negroamaro may well have been one of many grapes introduced by the Greeks who colonised southern Italy in the 7th century BC. It certainly has deep roots in Puglia especially, although cannot be confidently identified here in any written records before the mid-19th century. 
 

Where does Negroamaro grow?  

Negroamaro is primarily found in Puglia, especially the provinces of Lecce and Brindisi, where it plays a key role in one of the region’s most highly regarded denominations, Salice Salentino. Negroamaro is also found on a smaller scale in neighbouring Basilicata and Campania. The grape’s ability to tolerate a hot, dry climate has led to modest plantings in both the US and Australia. 

Famous Negroamaro regions:  

Salice Salentino, Puglia, Italy 

Anything else?  

Negroamaro translates as “black bitter”. However, the plushness of its wines and likely Greek origin has led to an alternative theory that the second half of this variety’s name actually derives from the Greek “mavros”, or “black”, leaving a name that translates as “black black”.  

Our selection of great Negroamaro 

This grape variety is also known by the name of:

Abbruzzese, Abruzzese, Albese, Arbese, Arbise, Amaro Nero, Amaronero, Jonico, Mangia Verde, Mangiaverme, Morese, Lacrima, Lacrimo, Nicra Amaro, Mangiaverde, Nero Amaro, Nero Leccese, Negra Della Lorena, San Lorenzo, Niuri Maru, Niuru Maru, San Marzuno, Uva Cane