In the heart of Abruzzo lies Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, a captivating wine appellation that invites travelers to explore its stunning landscapes and rich viticultural heritage. Renowned for its robust Montepulciano grape, this region offers a diverse array of tasting experiences. From the rolling hills of Teramo to the historic vineyards of Pescara and L’Aquila, visitors can indulge in bold reds and elegant whites. Discover the local culture at charming wineries that showcase the genuine spirit of wine tourism in this picturesque part of Italy.
Italy, always well-known for its viticulture, constantly offering various types of wine for any taste, is not failing on fruity variants either, and Montepulciano D'Abruzzo wine is a clear example. The Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC territory was created in 1968. It includes a vast area of eastern Abruzzo, extending from the upper valley of the Chiana to the Adriatic coast. If you are a high-quality, fruity wine lover, you should definitely read more about this region and its wines.
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Located in the sun-soaked east-central Italy, the Montepulciano D'Abruzzo wine region covers a vast expanse of land in the Abruzzo region between the Apennines foothills down to the Adriatic coast. Therefore, it should never be mistaken for a Tuscan village of the same name, famous for its wine Vin Nobile di Montepulciano, as they are two completely different things. Montepulciano is produced in all four provinces of Abruzzo—L'Aquila, Chieti, Pescara, and Teramo—with the fertile southern province of Chieti producing the largest total quantity of wine. In the countryside of Atri, which produced a wine called Hadrianum, the first bottle of Montepulciano was labeled.
The Abruzzo region is quite mountainous; more than 65% of the region is considered mountainous terrain, reaching up to 2,750 meters above sea level. The weather is Mediterranean, dry, and mostly sunny; however, the climate varies in the north, where the land is less fertile. The terroir ranges from marly-clay, sand-rich flysch, limestone soils, and alluvium deposits, making clay-rich soil a perfect place for the grapes to grow. The cool mountain air currents combined with the high altitudes help control the vineyards' diurnal temperature variations on the slopes. Along the coastline, the sea absorbs the heat during the day and releases it at night, which strongly influences Abruzzo's viticulture.
The majority of the area cannot be used for viticulture, considering the vast Apennine mountain range that runs through the region. As a result, most vineyards are located along the coastline and the well-known rolling hills.
The region has extended periods of sunlight and is considered one of Italy's hotter areas. The climate makes the ocean influence an essential element for producing well-balanced grapes. Without the cooling influence, these wines would lack acidity, affecting the quality.
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wine first appeared in history as early as 1793, when the red wine grapes had emerged. Classified as Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) back in 1968, Montepulciano D'Abruzzo wine appellation was promoted to separate Denominazione di Origine controllata e garantita (DOCG) status later in 2003. Due to its exquisite features, such as taste and drinkability the wine has earned its reputation quite soon after and claims to be one of Italy's most widely exported indigenous wines. Abruzzo has around 36,000 hectares of land, producing more than 350 million litres of wine annually, most of which is of Montepulciano D'Abruzzo Wine appellation.
One of Italy's most popular red wine grapes, Montepulciano, has thrived in Abruzzo since the middle of the 18th Century. A plump grape, which gives good yields of easy-to-drink wine, giving it a rustic touch, is popular with both producers and zealous consumers. The variety typically provides deeply colored juice, from ruby to purple, depending on vintage and the particular winemaking techniques used. Ageing as well plays a great role in the taste of wine; for that reason, there is a difference between the tastes of oak-aged and natural-aged Montepulciano;
When wine is aged in oak barrels, it develops flavours from the wood as it adds a smoky aroma to the wine, such as chocolate, vanilla, and mocha, in addition to black fruit flavours it already has. All that makes oak-aged Montepulciano extremely attractive, especially abroad. While natural ageing results in more softening effects as this fermentation process takes a longer time, makes wine more drinkable, and allows it to maintain natural and intense red fruit flavours.
The name "Amatriciana" comes from Amatrice, a town near Rome. The sauce is often considered one of the holy trinity of Roman pasta, with carbonara and cacio e pepe. Amatriciana is an Italian dish that was invented in the 17th century when tomatoes were added to a traditional recipe for 'gricia' or pasta with cheese and guanciale. Cook down the tomatoes in the fat from juicy cubes of guanciale, add grated pecorino cheese, simmer, then serve over spaghetti.
The first recipe for Amatriciana was published in the 1790 cookbook L’Apicio Moderno by Francesco Leonardi, a renowned Roman chef and author. Over time, this dish has gained popularity and appeared in several movies.
The Amatriciana sauce is a classic Italian dish, combining the taste of pepperoncino peppers, tomatoes and the gamut of flavours that characterizes the region of Lazio. Montepulciano wines are perfectly matched with this special dish and provide for an outstanding meal.
Sagne e fagioli is a down-to-earth Italian dish with roots in Abruzzo and Molise. It typically consists of beans in tomato sauce with homemade pasta added near the end of cooking. The pasta noodles are made with flour and water, while the sauce is usually made with tomatoes, celery, carrots, onions, chili peppers and olive oil.
If you're looking for even more flavour, it's recommended to enrich the dish with bacon or pork rinds. It's recommended to serve sagne e fagioli with a glass of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wine.
The Castle of Rocca Calascio is a mountaintop fortress in the municipality of Calascio, located in the province of L'Aquila.
1,460 meters up, it is the highest fortress off all the Apennines mountains. The fortress was made only of stone and mishop exclusively for military purposes, never meant to be residence for nobles.
Construction on the fortress started in the 10th century, but it grew more and more to eventually have a tall inner keep with 4 cylindrical towers at the corners. The lower half of this fortress is made with larger stones than the top, so it was impossible to invade. The fortress was never really put to the test. However, back in 1461, it was badly damaged by an earthquake with a magnitude of 7-8 on the Richter Scale. Although the town of Calascio around the fortress was rebuilt at some point, the fort itself was never restored.
Pescara is an Italian city located on the Adriatic sea. It’s mostly famous for its beaches and is the birthplace of popular poet Gabriele D'Annunzio. His childhood home currently houses a museum about his life and work. There are several exhibitions held at the Museo delle Genti d'Abruzzo, including those dedicated to regional industries like the kiln and olive oil. The Vittoria Colonna Museum of Modern Art has many pieces on view by Miró and Picasso.
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