Preview into the Food, Wine & Travel to Puglia

Our 3rd to last region before we rounding out our first full tour of all 20 regions of Italy and this month our Italian Food, Wine & Travel (#ItalianFWT) bloggers group features Puglia. I'm amazed more and more how I'm seeing and reading about many folks traveling to Puglia, which must be an amazing boost to the economy there. Per some of our ItalianFWT bloggers here is their perspective on the region:

• “I have been seduced by the spectacular panoramas of olive trees, the mesmerizing Adriatic and Ionian coastlines, the whitewashed and amber stone cities, the art and architecture, the unique cuisine and wines...everything...but most of all, by the warm and welcoming people.” - Victoria of Postcardz from Victoria
• “The people, the proximity to the sea, the climate, the architecture, and of the course the traditional food and wine products are major features of this southern region of Italy.” - Margie of Margie in Italy

The very fertile, flat plains in Puglia measure right up there with those of Emilia Romagna and the Po Valley. Vineyards and olive trees are prevalent as you travel throughout the region as well as the unique trulli white, stone capped homes. Plus, once your done exploring the region, the port town of Brindisi is a great launching point to shoot over to Greece.

Trulli in Puglia by Margie

Food of Puglia

The southern cuisine of Italy is rich in fresh vegetables and a lot of the dishes of Puglia are influenced by this. Puglia is also a region well known for it's olive oil.  In addition, as you can imagine due to its proximity to the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, that seafood is another popular option. Add a little of the popular pasta, orecchiette, of the region and viola! You have a taste of Puglia in your own home.

Olive trees in Puglia by Victoria

Wines of Puglia

The wine industry has dramatically changed over the years with Puglia in years past being a region for producing quantity with much of it's grapes shipped north, to what it is today where quality wine is now being produced here and at some great values.

Puglia is a region whose reds are making more of an appearance in the wine market than ever before. Grapes including negroamaro and primitivo are helping to get these wines more noticed. The whites here are mostly made of bombino bianco, verdeca and chardonnay.

Wine map of Puglia Copyright of Federdoc

This Saturday April 2^nd you'll get a variety of what our Italian bloggers group has to offer and here is a preview below. Make sure to also join our live Twitter chat at 11am EST on #ItalianFWT. If you'd like to join our group it's not too late. Email me at vinotravels at hotmail.com.

Vino Travels - Penne Con I Broccoli & Salice Salento

Paradise of Exiles - Three Wine Bars in Lecce
Orna O'Reilly - A Taste of Puglia
Culinary Adventures with Camilla - Insalata con Polpi in Umido e Patate
Food Wine Click - Primitivo and Pasta from the Heel of the Boot
Rockin Red Blog - Puglia: Take Me Away!
Cooking Chat - Pasta with Chicken Sausage and Kale
The Palladian Traveler - Savoring the Salento
Vigneto Communications - Indigenous Grapes of Puglia
Postcardz from Victoria - A Tuscan Wine Legend Finds Inspiration in Puglia
The Wining Hour - Pleasures of Puglia: Primitivo, Cavatelli and Shrimp & Eggplant Arrabbiata
L'Occasion - A Night In: Celebrate Puglia at Home

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