Summer in Puglia in southern Italy cannot be explained by the daytime heat alone. After sunset, the ground slowly begins to cool, but the red clay layer, still holding heat, catches the moonlight and glows again. Puglians call this scene of red soil, fine salinity, and wind "notte rossa" (red night).
There is a scientific principle behind this phenomenon. Puglia's soil is composed of red clay rich in iron oxide. When the sun sits low, light reflecting off iron oxide particles spreads a red hue, and fine salt particles and dust crossing between the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea intensify this scattering effect. On summer nights when the moon rises low, you can even see a "red moon" phenomenon with an actual reddish moonlight.
One place has taken this special landscape as its brand name: Notte Rossa (red night), based in Salento in southern Puglia. Notte Rossa said it chose the name to honor the dedication of farmers who harvest grapes under the moonlight. It is a tribute to the moonlight reflected on the red earth and the sweat and care of the people who picked grapes beneath it.
In practice, grape growers in Salento harvest in the evening or at night to avoid the midday heat. This prevents the loss of aromas at high temperatures and preserves the grapes' freshness and acidity. The scene of picking grapes under moonlight became the starting point for the brand.
Notte Rossa is made from grapes harvested in gently rolling hills at about 100 meters above sea level. The red soil was formed as iron in the clay layer left by weathered limestone oxidized. This red clay has uniform particle size and good drainage, absorbs sunlight during the day to store heat, and releases it slowly at night. This process keeps the temperature around the grape roots stable and helps the fruit ripen. As a result, sugar levels rise into the late stages of wine maturation, and the tannins become softer.
Puglia has a classic Mediterranean climate, with long, dry summers. By day, the sun ripens the grapes, and at night, sea breezes blowing in from the two seas cool them and keep them fresh. With this daily temperature swing repeating, the grapes develop both ripe fruit aromas and balanced acidity.
Puglia's representative varieties are Primitivo and Negroamaro. Primitivo is known in the United States as Zinfandel and is characterized by sweet, intense fruit. Negroamaro means "black and slightly bitter grape," and stands out for its deep color, slight bitterness, and structure. These two varieties symbolize the climate and soil of southern Italy.
Notte Rossa blended these two signature Puglian varieties in equal parts to create a wine called Bacias. In the Salento dialect, Bacias means "respected person" or "noble." True to its name, it is a wine with a dignified balance and a warm feel.
Notte Rossa hand-harvests fully ripe (matured) grapes, then destems and gently crushes them. It extracts color and aroma through a cold soak for 24 to 48 hours, then ferments with native yeast for about 10 days. After fermentation, it is pressed, undergoes malolactic (lactic acid) fermentation in stainless steel tanks, and ages for 12 months in French oak barrels.
The color is deep ruby with a violet hue. On the nose, there are ripe red fruit aromas such as plum and black cherry, followed by vanilla and licorice. On the palate, weighty structure and a soft texture coexist, leaving a long finish. With its pronounced flavors, it pairs well with first-course dishes, red meat, and aged cheeses. The 2019 vintage won a gold medal at the Berlin Wine Trophy, and the 2021 vintage received 95 points from Luca Maroni. It won the grand prize in the Old World red wine category at the 2025 Korea Wine & Spirits Awards. The domestic importer is Zennihon Liquor.