he wine is produced in the Salentine peninsula in the extreme south of the region of Apulia. Output is concentrated in the area bordering the commune of Alezio, to the east of Gallipoli.Known in ancient times as Alesium, the commune is noted not only for its wine but also for the many ancient artifacts that have been discovered in the community or the vicinity. The wine is made almost entirely from the red Negro Amaro variety and has been produced for centuries. In fact, the vineyards of the southern part of Apulia have been planted almost entirely with the variety since the 6th century BC.
Negro Amaro is clearly the finest variety for the making of the rose' wines typical of the Salento. It is often vinified along with small amounts of Malvasia Nera to soften its flavor, which at times is too pronounced. The wine obtained from those varieties has varied tonalities, ranging from ruby red to garnet, and a flavor with a pleasantly bitterish vein. It is because of the strong tint of the wine and the black hue of its clusters that the variety is known as Negro Amaro, a derivation of the dialectical term "niuru maru".
Nearly two centuries ago, another variety known as Negro Dolce was cultivated in the Salento and its characteristics were exactly the opposite of those of Negro Amaro.
Alezio is named for the community that is the center of its output. The town is located on the western side of Apulia on the Ionian coast. It is an attractive fishing port and tourist resort with a medieval urban center that contains numerous wine cellars.
Those cellars contain the traditional red wines of Alezio, which are particularly adapted to extensive aging.
