It is bordered on the east by the Gargano promontory massif, which acts as a natural barrier to the cold winds blowing across the Adriatic from the nearby Balkans. Thanks to such conditions, the Daunia enjoys a largely continental-style climate, characterised by very cold winters, with snow and freezes, and generally long, often very hot summers. The soils are deep, with good drainage and little water loss; the vine-roots penetrate them easily, ensuring the vine an adequate supply of water and minerals.

Many grape varieties find their ideal habitat in this area and flourish, including white grapes such as Bombino Bianco, Malvasia Bianca, and Trebbiano, but particularly red grapes, such as Nero di Troia, Montepulciano, and Aglianico.

The Daunia IGP denomination covers the entire Daunia area, as do the Ortanova DOP, Rosso di Cerignola DOP, Tavoliere delle Puglie DOP, San Severo DOP–the oldest denomination in Puglia,–and the Cacc’e mmitte di Lucera DOP. The local soils and climate, together with social conditions common to many areas of southern Italy, dictated an overwhelmingly agricultural economy in the Daunia. Winegrowing, in particular, has historically predominated, but it received a special impetus in the latter half of the 19th century, thanks to the activities of the Rochefoucauld family. After the phylloxera scourge had devastated vineyards all across Europe, this noble French landowning family moved its winemaking operations to the area of Cerignola, and in the process introduced crucial modernisation of many local winegrowing practices, which led to a rebirth of the entire local winemaking sector.