ABRUZZO

Location

Running down Italy's east coast Abruzzo is where Italy divides itself between North and South. The regional capital is Aquila which was hit by a severe earthquake recently. Abruzzo is no longer called "Abruzzi" since the region of Molise became a separate political entity in 1963 (to the south of Abruzzo)

Climate

Mediterranean but with cooling Adriatic sea breezes and thermal downdrafts from the snowy mountains of the nearby Apennines.

Topography

This is one of those rare places in the world where you can ski and swim in one day and in view of most vineyards is both the Adriatic and southern Italy's tallest mountain south of the Alps "il Gran Sasso".

Soils

Mixed limestone and marl, iron rich subsoils.

Production

3.403.000 HL

 
                                                                                                                                                                                              Abruzzo        Basilicata        Calabria        Campania        Emilia-Romagna        Friuli-VeneziaGiulia        Lazio        Liguria        Lombardia        Marche        Molise        Piemonte        Puglia        Sardegna        Sicilia        Toscana        Trentino-AltoAdige        Umbria        Valled'Aosta        Veneto                                     

Our producers

Contesa

Roxan

Grapes

  • Description

    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.

    Principle Wines

  • Description

    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 short macerations for good extracts and avoiding tougher tannins. For this, it is also a good blender. Some quality producers macerate longer, producing wines of great structure, complexity and longevity.

    Principle Wines

    Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Cerasuolo

  • Description

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

    Principle Wines

    Controguerra Bianco

  • Description

    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.

    Principle Wines

    Mostly IGTs + Controguerra Bianco

  • Description

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

    Principle Wines

    Trebbiano d'Abruzzo

Major Appellations DOCG/DOC

  • Description

    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.

    Principle Wines

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

  • Description

    This relatively new DOCG was already envisaged as a subzone when the DOC was created in 1992. Located 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

    Principle Wines

    Montepulciano

  • Description

    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

    Principle Wines

    Montepulciano

Sub Appellations DOCG/DOC

  • Principle Wines

    Trebbiano Toscano, Bombino Bianco

  • Alto Tirino
    Colli Aprutini
    Colli del Sangro
    Colline Frentane
    Colline Pescaresi
    Colline Teatine
    Del Vastese or Histonium
    Terre di Chieti
    Valle Peligna