Abruzzo Wine

Abruzzo is an Italian wine region located in the mountainous central Italian region of Abruzzo along the Adriatic Sea. 

 

It is bordered by the Molise wine region ( 21.10.2015. ) to the south, Marche ( 28.10.2015. ) to the north and Lazio to the west. The Abruzzo region has the Apennines running along its western border and includes Corno Grande, the highest point on mainland Italy. The mountain range serves as a tempering influence, blocking many storms that come in from the west.

o the east, the adriatic sea provides moderating Mediterranean climate for the vineyards that run along an west east orientation in calcareous clay river valleys that flow from the mountains to the seas.

Winemaking traditions in Abruzzo date back to the sixth century B.C. thanks to the Etruscans, who played a major role in introducing viniculture to the area.

Today more than 42 million cases of wine are produced annually in Abruzzo, making it the fifth most productive region in Italy, but only about 20 % of which is made under the DOC designation.

The most notable wine of the region is Montepulciano d'Abruzzo produced by the Montepulciano ( 12.08.2015. ) grape that is distinct from the Sangiovese ( 23.09.2015. ) grape behind the Tuscan wine Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.

Nearly 80% of all the wine in the Abruzzo region is produced by large co-operative wineries with the four largest:

• Cantina Tollo

• Casal Thaulero

• Casal Bordino

• Citra.

The wines of the Abruzzo region were internationally known as early as 17th century when the Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes praised the high quality of the region's Trebbiano d'Abruzzo.