Abruzzo

An indigenous white grape making that was nearly extinct until very recently. Traditionally blended in the "local grapes" component of the Trebbianos but is now making something of a reappearance due to its traditiona of being a higher quality grape than Trebbiano's volume character.

Abruzzo is this grapes natural home – and is virtually unchallenged. The vast majority planted to tendone but rapidly changing to Spalliera. A relatively late ripener – late September to mid October (& sometimes beyond depending on site). Skins are rich in polyphenols (esp. anthocyanins) – requiring hsort macerations for good extracts and avoiding tougher tannins. For this, it is also a good blender. Some quality ptroducers macerate longer, producing wines of great structure, complexity and longevity.

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Cerasuolo

Aka Bianchello (le Marche) it is now making a come back with a surge of other indigenous grapes fro Abruzzo. A white grape making zippy, fresh citrus wines.

Controguerra Bianco

Once in decline, it has bounced back with avengance being part of the all new Italian whites wines made in a reductive rather than a very poor oxidative style. Some very good quality Pecorinos now exist in the market.

Mostly IGTs + Controguerra Bianco

Ubiquitous and unexciting despite some top growers trying to make it intpo a quality proposition even usuing barrique (!). It's still to convince.

Trebbiano d'Abruzzo

This DOC was created in 1996 partly to give recognition to the winegrowing qualities of this tiny north Abruzzo enclave and partly to appease these Abruzzo producers in their desire to produce wines other than Montepulciano.

Rosso: Montepulciano, Merlot, Cabernet
Bianco: Trebbiano, Chardonnay, Passerina
Varietal wines of the above.

This relatively new DOCG was already envisaged as a subzone when the DOC was created in 1992. ocated in the north of the region where the land is more hilly and te soils are richer in minerals, this area produces a distinctly more important and complex wine than its siblings further south. Added to these complexities will be the extra ageing in the DOCG rules

Montepulciano

The definitive wine from Abruzzo not to be confused of course with the wine from the town of Montepulciano which is in Tuscany. Most is volume, glugging simple wine. Some, however, are very interesting, complex wines of quality, show balsamic, green olive, juicy black fruit with tobacco notes

Montepulciano

Trebbiano Toscano, Bombino Bianco