Cacc’è mmitte di Lucera DOC is a red wine denomination from the area around Lucera in northern Puglia, where the gently undulating foothills of the Daunian Apennines meet the Tavoliere plain. The landscape is marked by calcareous clay soils, with sandy components in places. These soils retain moisture while allowing a steady ripening cycle. Hot, dry summers, marked day-night temperature variation, and air currents from both the Adriatic and the interior shape the grapes’ aromatic and structural profile.
The blend is founded on Uva di Troia, the variety that provides colour, firm tannic structure, spice, and a distinctive regional identity. Montepulciano contributes juicy fruit and breadth, Sangiovese brings lift and freshness, while Malvasia Nera adds perfume and softness to the palate. The traditional composition gives Uva di Troia the leading role, supported by Montepulciano, Sangiovese, and a smaller proportion of Malvasia Nera, creating a wine in which strength is balanced by aromatic nuance.
Vineyard work is attentive to canopy management, aeration of the fruiting zone, and the timing of harvest, since the varieties do not ripen simultaneously. Uva di Troia in particular benefits from a long, measured ripening period to achieve mature tannins without sacrificing brightness. Following destemming, fermentation takes place with the skins at controlled temperatures. The length of maceration is adapted to the vintage and the desired degree of extraction, while gentle pumping over or punch-downs help build colour and texture with restraint. Maturation may take place in inert vessels, wood, or a combination of both, according to the intended style.
The denomination takes its name from the local expression “cacc’è mmitte,” meaning roughly “draw out and refill,” a reminder of Lucera’s traditional wine-serving customs. Officially recognized in the latter half of the twentieth century, it expresses a long-established red-wine heritage rooted in the vineyards of Lucera.
