A Bargain Red Perfect with Pasta or Poultry

I remember a visit to Southern Season by Cosimo Taurino, one of Italy’s best producers of the Puglian red wine, Salice Salentino. Seems we were selling more of his wines than anybody in the American Southeast! The reason was simple; they were excellent, sound, flavorful wines that we were bringing into North Carolina through a consortium providing great prices. Cosimo spoke no English but, of course, that was no problem between us! These distinctive wines have become far better known in the ensuing 30 years. The grape is negroamaro, and it is one of the joys of Italy’s “heel.” One of this region’s finest newer producers is Masseria Li Veli, and it pleased me to taste some of their lineup recently. Salice (which means “willow” in Italian) Salentino shines as perhaps Puglia’s (pronounced: POOL-yah) best red. And, after all these years, there’s one thing Salice Salentino remains, at least in Li Veli’s hands: A bargain!