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Grape Variety: Primitivo

Variety Name Primitivo
TTB Approved Name(s) Primitivo
Common Synonyms Crljenak kaštelanski, Pribidrag, Zinfandel
All Synonyms Crljenak kaštelanski, Gioia del Colle, Kratošija, Locale, Morellone, Plavac veliki, Pribidrag, Primaticcio, Primativo, Primitivo di Gioia, Primitivo di Locale, Primitivo nero, Uva della Pergola, Uva di Corato, Zin Familierement, Zinfandel
Countries of Origin Croatia
Species Vitis vinifera
Pedigree 6- DNA analysis established that Zinfandel = Crljenak kaštelanski (Croatia) and Primitivo (Italy)
References
Berry Color Black
Uses Wine
Comments The first recorded presence of the Primitivo grape in Italy was in Gioia del Colle, a small town in the Puglia region, around 1800. One theory posits that the grape migrated across the Adriatic Sea from Croatia in the 18th century. The DNA profiles for Primitivo, Zinfandel, Crljenak kaštelanski and Pribidrag (Croatia) are identical. Despite those results, some clonal divergence between Primitivo and Zinfandel seems to have resulted due to the long physical and temporal separation of Primitivo and Zinfandel. A complete description of the Zinfandel/Primitivo/Crljenak kaštelanski story can be accessed in the FPS 2007 Grape Program Newsletter at http://fps.ucdavis.edu, under Publications - Grape.

Primitivo PhotosClick photo to enlarge

                                                               

Primitivo Selections

Information about:          Selection Numbers     |     Registration Status
  Primitivo 03
Registration Status Registered Registered is the ultimate status in the California Department of Food & Agricultures Grapevine Registration & Certification Program. Registered selections have successfully completed all disease testing required by the regulations. Registered selections have also been confirmed as true to variety by experts using visual observations, DNA-based testing or both.
Source Istituto di Patalogia Vegetale in Bari, Italy
Treatments Heat treatment (59 days) in Italy
Comments Primitivo FPS 03 was obtained in 1968 by Dr. Austin Goheen (UC Davis - Plant Pathology) through the Istituto di Patalogia Vegetale in Bari, Italy, the capital city of the Puglia region. The plant material underwent heat treatment for 59 days before coming to the United States as USDA plant introduction (PI) number 325796-A-1. For a while, even after planting in the Foundation Vineyard in 1971, the selection was known as Primitivo de Gioia, a synonym for Primitivo used in Italy. Prior to 1984, the name of this selection was ultimately changed to simply “Primitivo”.

After arrival in Davis, the original mother plants of Primitivo 03 were tested for virus with negative results. Mother plants were established in the FPS foundation block in 1971, but they were not identified and registered for the first time until 1984. Primitivo 03 was first registered and distributed to the public that year. A tissue-cultured version of Primitivo 03 has qualified for planting in the Russell Ranch Foundation Vineyard (see Primitivo 03.1).

  Primitivo 05
Registration Status Registered Registered is the ultimate status in the California Department of Food & Agricultures Grapevine Registration & Certification Program. Registered selections have successfully completed all disease testing required by the regulations. Registered selections have also been confirmed as true to variety by experts using visual observations, DNA-based testing or both.
Source Istituto Sperimentale per la Viticoltura, Conegliano, Italy
Treatments None
Comments Primitivo FPS 05 and 06 are two of four selections which were sent from Italy to Foundation Plant Services in 1987 by Professor Antonio Calò, of the Istituto Sperimentale Viticoltura in the Veneto region of northeast Italy. Selections 1 and 2 sent by Professor Calò are now FPS Primitivo 05 and 06, respectively. These Primitivo selections were provided to FPS at the request of Dr. Austin Goheen (UC Davis – Plant Pathology), who desired more Primitivo selections to compare to Zinfandel. Both selections tested negative for viruses and became registered in the California Grapevine Registration & Certification Program in September of 1997. A tissue-cultured version of Primitivo 05 has qualified for the Russell Ranch Foundation Vineyard (see Primitivo 05.1).

  Primitivo 06
Registration Status Registered Registered is the ultimate status in the California Department of Food & Agricultures Grapevine Registration & Certification Program. Registered selections have successfully completed all disease testing required by the regulations. Registered selections have also been confirmed as true to variety by experts using visual observations, DNA-based testing or both.
Source Istituto Sperimentale per la Viticoltura, Conegliano, Italy
Treatments None
Comments Primitivo FPS 05 and 06 are two of four selections which were sent from Italy to Foundation Plant Services in 1987 by Professor Antonio Calò, of the Istituto Sperimentale Viticoltura in the Veneto region of northeast Italy. Selections 1 and 2 sent by Professor Calò are now FPS Primitivo 05 and 06, respectively. These Primitivo selections were provided to FPS at the request of Dr. Austin Goheen (UC Davis – Plant Pathology), who desired more Primitivo selections to compare to Zinfandel. Both selections tested negative for viruses and became registered in the California Grapevine Registration & Certification Program in September of 1997. A tissue-cultured version of Primitivo 06 has qualified for the Russell Ranch Foundation Vineyard (see Primitivo 06.1).

  Primitivo 08
In Progress This selection is currently in progress.
Source Italy
Treatments None, requires disease elimination therapy prior to release to public due to positive test results for virus
Comments This selection came to Foundation Plant Services for the public collection in 1987 through Dr. Antonio Calò in Conegliano, Italy, as part of the Winegrowers' Project. It was labelled 'Selection 4' from Italy. The original material tested positive for virus and requires disease elimination therapy prior to release to the public.