Castel del Monte
CASTEL DEL MONTE (DOC)
The name of the wine comes from the impressive castle in the Gothic style, which rises near Andria on the Murge Plateau. Emperor Frederick II ordered the construction of this fortress on a high hill, according to the plans drawn up by them. As a result, a completely unique building was created. The body of the castle has an octagonal shape, and on each of its outer corners there is an octagonal tower. The interior of the building is divided into eight trapezoidal halls arranged on two levels., that surround the octagonal courtyard.
There are many hypotheses, which try to explain the significance of Frederick II's project. According to the most common opinion, this castle was to be a symbol of esoteric astrological theories., in which science is emphasized, secular state and imperial power – the octagonal shape was to reflect the movement of the sun along the zodiacal belt; crown, which resembles a castle seen from a bird's eye view, was supposed to mean power; while the well of the courtyard, surrounded by high walls, was to be a symbol of science.
Vineyards, the surrounding Castel del Monte are situated at an altitude 300 meters above sea level.m. or higher, so they have exceptionally favorable climatic conditions for viticulture.
Initially, Castel del Monte wine was produced in only three versions – red, white and pink.
Red wine is mainly made from the Uva di Troia variety, also known as Uva della Marina, as this strain is also cultivated with significant success in some municipalities, located along the coast, north of Bari. The official name of this strain comes from the name of a small town in the province of Foggia and is used to refer to the main wines of the Denominazione di Origine Controllata appellation from the bari and Foggia regions..
For the production of white wine, the Pampanuto variety is mainly used, also known as Pampanino, which is grown exclusively in the area of Corato and Ruvo. Even in the nineteenth century, this strain was also known as Pampanuto di Terlizzi, due to the extensive cultivation of vine near this small municipality from the province of Bari.
Castel del Monte rosé wine is made mainly from the Bombino Nero variety., which has a bunch of medium size, with an unusual pyramid shape, resembling – according to popular belief – a child (Bambino) standing with outstretched hands. Bombino is nothing more than a variation of the word bambino.
For several years, the DOC Castel del Monte appellation has allowed the production of wines from only one strain, sometimes these are traditional varieties for this area, like Bombino Bianco, Uva di Troia, Bombino Nero and Aglianico, and sometimes other varieties, that have appeared there in recent decades, like Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Nero and Cabernet.
Consorzio Tutea Vini Doc Castel del Monte
Corso Cavour, 27
70033 Corato (disambiguation) (BA)
ITALY