Daunia is the ancient name of northern Puglia, the land of the Daunians: the Tavoliere plain, the Gargano and the Daunian Mountains. Today it is also the name of the typical geographical indication gathering the wines of the province of Foggia that fall outside the DOCs. Created in 1995, it is a sizeable IGT: about 547 registered hectares and 7,130 hectolitres.
A very open IGT
Bianco, Rosato and Rosso may use the grapes permitted in the province of Foggia in any proportion, including frizzante or medium-sweet versions. With a grape name on the label, at least 85% of that grape is required, and two grapes may also be named, the first at 50 to 85% and the second at 15 to 50%. Minimum alcohol is 9.5% and there is no minimum ageing.
The grapes
The list of whites is very long: Bombino Bianco, Falanghina, Fiano, Greco, Malvasia, Verdeca, Bianco d'Alessano, Moscato, Trebbiano and many international varieties. The reds and rosés include Negroamaro, Primitivo, Aglianico, Bombino Nero, Malvasia Nera, Aleatico and several international grapes such as Merlot and Cabernet.
The range also includes white and rosé Spumanti, white and red Late Harvest wines and Passito. It is the tool with which the province's producers experiment with blends and grapes outside the frameworks of the designations of origin.
Between the Tavoliere and the Gargano
The Tavoliere is the great cereal plain of Puglia, hot and windy, while the Gargano and the Daunian Mountains offer cooler hills. Daunia whites go with Gargano fish, orecchiette and vegetables; the reds with grilled meat, lamb and caciocavallo podolico. The area's historic appellation is San Severo, with its whites from Bombino and Trebbiano.
