Marche Wine Region

Travel Guide to Marche Wine Region

Marche wine region has long been considered one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy. This area has indeed a lot of attractive features: the numerous beautiful old towns, hills and mountains of the Apennines that embrace long beaches on the Adriatic Sea. However, it is still undiscovered territory for wine lovers. So, it's time to discover vineyards of Marche wine region stretching on the hills and surrounding medieval villages.

Have a look at the list of wine tastings & tours in Marche wine region to experience it fully together with locals!

Discover more about Marche wine region through our travel guide:

What you should know about Marche wines

Places you can visit in Marche

Culinary specialities of the region

Wineries with open cellar door

Behind a fertile hill country with nearly 18,000 hectares of vineyards, there is a long history of viticulture. The potential of Marche wine region was already known by ancient Celts and the Etruscans, who cultivated the first vines and of course, later expanded by the Romans.

What You Should Know about Marche Wines

Main grape varieties, flagship wines and wineries you can visit

Vineyards of the Marche wine region are spread over four provinces with 13 DOC zones, five DOCG zones, and one IGT and has a total production of about 1.6 million hectoliters of wine. Marche wine region is popular for its white wines from Trebbiano and Verdicchio grape varieties. However, they also produce some outstanding red wines mainly in southern areas of Marche.

Marche Wine Region Map

Grape Varieties of Marche Wine Region

In Marche wine region, half of the white wines and red wines are produced, and the same applies to the distribution of grape varieties. Nevertheless, there is a particularly important grape variety: Verdicchio. The autochthonous white grape Verdicchio provides the basis for the eponymous wine, the most famous drop in the region.

White Star - Verdicchio

Highlights of the Marche wine region are wines made from Verdicchio grape variety. The best known are the Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi and the Verdicchio di Matelica. Fresh, fruity wines with powerful acidity and often with a typical almond taste on the finish. In recent years, the quality of Verdicchio wines has increased enormously and instead of formerly rather light wines, you have now higher-quality wines with a certain finesse.

Besides Verdicchio, almost forgotten white variety Pecorino is gaining popularity here, producing fine-fruity, very pleasant to drink wines.

Other noteworthy white grapes used in production are Pinot Bianco and Malvasia Toscana. They also produce excellent sparkling wines with the traditional method - the Vernaccia di Serrapetrona, and the Verdicchio Pian delle Mura.

TIP!

Visit Tenuta di Tavignano and taste their Gambero Rosso award-wining Verdicchio wines, produced from single vineyards.

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Reds from Marche Wine Region

Partially outstanding red wines come mainly from the southern areas of Marche wine region. The most important red wine of the region, which deserves more attention, is the Rosso Piceno, Piceno must contain at least 60 % Sangiovese, while the Rosso Cònero is predominated by the Montepulciano variety. Wine must be made 85% of Montepulciano and based on the winemakers' decision there could be added 15% of Sangiovese.

Rosso Cònero benefits from Montepulciano's strong and gripping tannin and the relatively delicate berry fruit flavors. Its characteristics make the wine a perfect companion for grilled meat.

TIP!

Tenuta Cocci Grifoni offers premium quality red wines produced from top-notch Montepulciano, Sangiovese, and Passerina. visiting them is also a great chance to rediscover wines from Pecorino grape variety.

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North of Ancona also grows the red wine speciality Lacrima di Morro D'Alba. Its own is a distinctive, spicy fragrance that harmonizes with taut tannins. The grape variety Lacrima (tear) from the surroundings of the village Morro d'Alba is dedicated to only a few wineries. But what they generate is very exciting and provides an aha experience even with experienced wine drinkers. He is very good as a dry wine, but also as a red sweet wine.

TIP!

Do not hesitate to enjoy a glass of wine made with the Lacrima variety relaxing in the SPA of Filodivino Wine Resort & SPA!

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Discover more Wineries to Visit in Marche Wine Region

Even though Marche is not a popular wine destination, regional wineries offer a diversity of tourism experiences and present well-preserved secrets of the region.

Azienda Agricola Zaccagnini

Azienda Agricola Zaccagnini is a family-run winery established by Mario Zaccagnini in 1969. He planted a couple of hectares of Verdicchio to make wine for his family, as their main line of work was in electrical systems. The winery uses the best grapes to produce their exquisite red, white, rosé, sparkling, and dessert wines.

Tenuta Santi Giacomo e Filippo

After the restoration of an ancient village in the 20th century, the Tenuta Santi Giacomo e Filippo Winery came to be. Perched beautifully on the gentle hills of Marche countryside, an oasis in the central Montefeltro, the 2003-established farmstead of the winery boasts a land extension of 360 hectares. You can visit the Urbino resort and have a wonderful breakfast with honey, paired with wine tasting.

Have a look at the full list of wineries in Marche wine region with open cellar door and the greatest hospitality!

Places You Can Visit While in Marche Wine Region

According to Lonely Planet, Marche wine region takes second place in the Top 10 to visit in 2020. Pack your bags and start exploring the diversity of Marche from its cultural heritage to natural wonders.

Ancona - Between Sky and Sea

Ancona, an elegant city with a refined and enchanting charm, has been an important hub of commercial activity since ancient times and today it is a crossroads of stock exchanges, thanks to its prestigious marina.

How about a stroll through the old town right after the harbor? Via the central Piazza del Plebiscito, which invigorates you for an aperitif hour, you will pass churches worth seeing up to the Pinacoteca Comunale in the Palazzo Bosdari with masterpieces by Titian and Lorenzo Lotto. The route takes you as well to the imposing medieval San Ciriaco Cathedral.

 

The building with the façade in white and pink marble perched on the top of Monte Guasco overlooking the city. Once up here was the Acropolis, the remains of which are still visible today.

Urbino - Charming Renaissance Town

Urbino is a popular destination for guests from all over the world for its magnificent sights. The most beautiful building in the city is the imposing 15th century Palazzo Ducale.

The Italian city was founded in the 6th century and gained great prominence, especially during the Renaissance. Urbino is a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its many beautiful churches and imposing architecture. Those who spend their holidays in the city can take leisurely walks through the picturesque old town and enjoy its historic atmosphere. The numerous small cafes and restaurants in the city invite you to relax while enjoying the view of the impressive buildings and the idyllic landscape in the surrounding area.

Ascoli Piceno - City of Hundred Towers

Many remains and buildings of the Roman era can be visited here. In the Piazza del Popolo of Ascoli Piceno, the life of this small but charming city takes place. On the piazza, there is the Church of S. Francesco, a Gothic building that began in 1258 and was completed in 1549. The Loggia dei Mercanti (The House of Merchants) from the 16th century was built by the then most powerful merchants guild of wool merchants. The Palazzo dei Capitani is also located in Piazza del Popolo and was built in the 13th century. He served primarily as the seat of the city civic, following the council of elders and later as the seat of the papal governor.

Explore Guided Wine Tours in Marche with top Marche Wine Tour Guides.

Multifaceted Nature - Stalactite Caves and Impressive Gorges

If Italy is a boot on the map, the Marchen represents the upper part of the calf. A calf that consists partly of coastal and mountain regions and inspiring cities in the hinterland. The central Italian region between the Adriatic and the Apennines is perfect for stressed-out contemporaries looking for a retreat to escape. Several nature parks invite you to do so.

Natural spectacle of Frasassi Caves

The caves of Frasassi are located in Genga, near Fabriano. This beautiful cave was first discovered in 1971. The colors are very well preserved, making them one of the most spectacular caves in Europe. Entering these caves is like immersing yourself in a new, adventurous world of colors, sounds, and lights. It almost feels like being in a landscape of HC Andersen's The Snow Queen. There are guided tours through the caves during the day. Approximately every two hours. The tour lasts about 75 minutes.

The Furlo Canyon

A canyon with emerald green water

This impressive gorge and nature reserve, crossed by the Condigliano river, is one of the most impressive examples of the river engraving of the entire Apennines. With the opportunity for hiking and mountain biking, the Gola del Furlo offers insights and naturalistic riches of great geological interest. This excursion can also very well be combined with a visit to the city of the old Renaissance city of Urbino.

Monte Catria - Hiking in Marche

Monte Catria is a mountain in the central Apennines in the province of Pesaro and Urbino. The highest peak is 1,702 meters above sea level. It is a limestone massif that originated about 200 million years ago. The most beautiful mountain impressions offer you, so to speak, on the doorstep of Urbino, around Monte Catria. An experience is a spring hike over the flower-covered mountain meadows. A cable car takes you up the mountain.

Pair Your Wine With Culinary Specialties from Marche

There is no better way to discover local culture than throught its food. We will tell you what to eat in Marche and how to pair it with regional wines for better experience.

While the kitchens of the neighbouring regions are actually convincing due to the natural simplicity of the recipes, the kitchen in the Marche is more refined and complex. This is reflected above all in various fillings: from suckling pig to mussel and olive, nearly everything is filled pretty much.

Porchetta - Grilled Italian Roast Pork

Porchetta is traditional boneless roasted pork, which may be not missing at any village feast. You can often find them in busy streets along the roadside: the simple stalls offer thick slices to home-style bread; a good opportunity for a rewarding snack.

The porchetta is first boned and then filled with spices (including garlic and wild fennel seeds); then they are doused with wine.

Traditionally, it is cooked on a spit in the open air, slowly making the meat slowly clay-coloured, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside.

But even when cooked in the oven, the result is excellent; and if you have a wood-burning stove lined with branches of pines, holm oaks and oaks, the meat becomes even more fragrant, with an incomparable taste.

Wine Pair: Porchetta perfectly pairs with red wines from Marche wine region especially, ones with Montepulciano and Sangiovese grape varieties.

Truffles - White Gold

In addition, the province of Pesaro is the largest Italian producer of truffles, especially the high-quality white truffle, in direct competition with Alba. The truffle capital of the Marchen is Acqualagna. It is located between Pesaro and Urbino, where a famous market is held. The overly fragrant tubers (white, black, gray, purple, hazel and earthy) are therefore a common ingredient in local gastronomy and give many dishes power and peculiarity.

Pasta from Campofilone - Must in Marche!

The pasta from the pasta town of Campofilone has a long tradition and experience in the production of high-quality egg noodles. For the production only selected durum wheat from the Marche is used.

For 1 kg pasta 10 fresh eggs from free-range chickens are used. - no water! In the processing phase, the durum wheat semolina and fresh eggs are mixed with a special machine, which is set at the lowest speed. During this long time, the dough becomes very homogeneous. In the next step, every noodle shape and size will be cut. The sliced pasta is hand-laid on special paper sheets for pre-drying. Also, the pasta is packed with these papers to preserve shape and the natural taste. The finished pasta is then laid out in drying chambers for at least 48 hours and dried.

It was originally served with meat sauce sprinkled with pecorino cheese, as well as fish sauces.

Tip: Don't miss the annual fair dedicated to Maccheroncini di Campofilone held the first week of August in Campofilone!