Primitivo di Manduria vs Zinfandel Are They Really the Same Wine? Italy vs California Few wine comparisons generate more debate than Primitivo di Manduria DOC and California Zinfandel. At first glance, they seem almost identical—and genetically, they are. DNA research has confirmed that Primitivo and Zinfandel are the same grape variety, both tracing their origins back to Croatia's ancient Crljenak Kaštelanski. Yet despite sharing the same genetic identity, these wines can ta

Primitivo di Manduria 1. History Primitivo di Manduria is one of Puglia’s most famous red wines, produced in the warm, sun-soaked areas around Manduria in the Salento peninsula. The Primitivo grape, genetically linked to California’s Zinfandel, has been cultivated in southern Italy for centuries. Its name, meaning “early ripening,” reflects the grape’s tendency to mature earlier than most other varieties. Primitivo di Manduria DOC was established in 1974, highlighting the reg