Now officially one of the standout appassimento-style reds of the year, Corte Federei Puglia Leggermente Appassimento 2024 is a rich, velvety 'baby Amarone' crafted on Italy’s Adriatic coast using a natural, on-vine drying method. This is a small pre-release parcel, available to reserve today for just a £1 per bottle deposit - with an exclusive price of as little as £10.49 per bottle on dispatch (May).

About the WineMaker

Corte Federei is the work of Alessandro Michelon, a winemaker with over 20 years’ experience in Puglia, where he’s built his reputation around producing wines that balance richness with precision.

What creates such an exceptional wine is its approach to appassimento. Rather than drying grapes after harvest, Michelon uses a traditional technique called giro del picciolo, gently twisting selected bunches at peak ripeness and allowing them to naturally concentrate in the warm Adriatic air. This approach in a coastal location creates the ideal conditions for slow healthy drying.

Wine Tasting Notes

The Corte Federei is deeply coloured and immediately expressive, with layers of ripe plum, black cherry and dried fig on the nose, backed up by hints of cocoa, sweet spice and a touch of Mediterranean herbs. On the palate, it’s rich and silky, with that hallmark appassimento concentration bringing real depth and weight.

This is exactly the kind of red that comes into its own with slow-cooked dishes- think braised beef, lamb shoulder, or a rich ragu- but it's just as good with hard cheeses or something simple like a well-made steak and rosemary potatoes.