Vineyard in Abruzzo, Italy
Abruzzo is a productive but often underrated wine region. It is located in Central Italy along the Adriatic sea west of Lazio with Umbria and the Marches on its northern border. More than three million hectoliters of wine are produced here annually and more than half of that is red.
Abruzzo quietly ranks fifth among Italy’s 20 wine regions producing more wine than either Piedmont and its famous neighbor Tuscany.
Montepulciano, a versatile and potentially great red varietal, is king here, featuring in several of the region’s DOCs and its singular DOCG appellation. Montepulciano is Italy’s fifth most planted wine grape and second among red varietals (Sangiovese is tops). Most wine drinkers have encountered or even tasted the Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, a charming red that ranges in style from juicy and approachable to dense, tannic, and age-worthy.
The most spectacular wine of the region is Colline Teramane Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOCG. This small appellation (around 400 acres) became its own DOC in 2003 and then elevated to DOCG in 2016. Good luck finding a bottle outside of central Italy as bottles are scarce.
Abruzzo does offer Italy’s only dedicated rosé wine DOC in Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo. These delicious rosé (rosato) wines really showcase the bright red fruits found in Montepulciano. They, too, can be hard to find outside of Italy but they are worth seeking out as they are frequently great values and they age well.
Trebbiano is Abruzzo’s chief white wine varietal while Passerina and Pecorino are surging in popularity and critical interest. Trebbiano d’Abruzzo is the most visible of the white wine zones and the region’s only dedicated white DOC. Most of the wines from this DOC are pleasant but unremarkable, prompting wine lovers to explore the many IGP wines of Abruzzo for hidden gems. Luckily there are more gems to be found.
Permitted grapes include:
White – Chardonnay, Cococciola, Passerina, Pecorino, and Trebbiano
Red – Merlot, Montepulciano, and Sangiovese.
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Abruzzo – White, Red, Sparkling, and Sweet wines are made here.
Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo – Only Rosé wines are made here primarily from Montepulciano.
Colline Teramane Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOCG – Only Red wines are made here primarily from Montepulciano.
Controguerra – White, Red, Rosé, Sparkling, and Sweet wines are made here.
IGP Colli Aprutini – White, Red, Rosé, and Sweet wines are made here.
IGP Colli del Sangro – White, Red, Rosé, and Sweet wines are made here.
IGP Colline Frentane – White, Red, Rosé, and Sweet wines are made here.
IGP Colline Pescaresi – White, Red, Rosé, and Sweet wines are made here.
IGP Colline Teatine – White, Red, Rosé, and Sweet wines are made here.
IGP del Vastese – White, Red, Rosé, and Sweet wines are made here.
IGP Terre Aquilane – White, Red, Rosé, and Sweet wines are made here.
IGP Terre di Chieti – White, Red, Rosé, and Sweet wines are made here.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo – Only Red wines are made here primarily from Montepulciano.
Ortona – White and Red wines are made here.
Terre Tollesi – White, Red, Sparkling, and Sweet wines are made here.
Trebbiano d’Abruzzo – Only White wines are made here primarily from Trebbiano.
Villamagna – Only Red wines are made here primarily from Montepulciano.