ABRUZZO

Native activity on the east coast

A little light info to get us all started on ABRUZZO, thanks to:

Regional Vineyard:

Total Vineyard Size:

32,500 hectares | total regional vineyard including quality wines, table wines & table grapes

Dedicated to Quality:

15,842 hectares | dedicated to producing grapes for Quality wines

Notable Cru/Zones:

Chieti

Colline Teramane*

The only DOCG in Abruzzo containing min 90% Montepulciano ‘Abruzzo native variety with a max of 10% Sangiovese

Controguerra *

You will find native Quality here but you’ll have to search for it among other regional and international varietals. Sparkling wines too.

Ortona *

Interesting spot. Look out for Montepulciano’s with min 95% variety or Trebbiano Abruzzo with min 70% of the variety.

Pescara

Teate *

In this sottozona of the Montepulciano DOC, they start with min 90% Montepulciano. But look for it in purezza.

Terre di Causaria *

In this ottozona, here we’re talking 100% mono-varietal Montepulciano reds

Terre dei Peligni *

Another subzone of the Montepulciano DOC area where we’re talking reds with min 95% Montepulciano

Terre dei Vestini *

Again, another subzone of the regional DOC where the wines start with min 90% Montepulciano.

Tullum (Terre Tollesi) *

Ancient wine producing area. One of the smallest DOC’s in Italy with distinctive terroir & climate. All sorts including internationals and natives from other neighbouring Italian regions.

Villamagna*

Min 95% Montepulciano with the DOC also classifying a Riserva. Quality here is becoming interesting.

Wine Style/Quality:

% Red

61.6%

% White

38.4%

% DOP / IGP

From 2013 figures, it’s estimated 39.7% of wines produced in Abruzzo were according to EU DOP/PDO Quality standards. The region produces *9 DOP wines – *1 DOCG & *8 DOC. The regions 10 IGP classified wines account for 10.3% while Table wines account for 50%.

ABRUZZO NATIVE GRAPES

As always, a number of the regions native grape varieties are used only for blending purposes. That said, we’ve listed those grapes which we understand are available as mono-varietals or which are important blenders. In Abruzzo’s case, we’re pretty much done and dusted with 4 varieties :) Naturally, as we make our own discovery, we’ll update these lists.

NATIVE REDS

Maiolica*

We’ve got everything to learn about this variety

Montepulciano*

A native red of increasingly great distinction, Montepulciano accounts for 50% of Abruzzo’s regional wine prodution.

NATIVE WHITES

Coccociola

Still looking to taste

Trebbiano Abruzzese*

As a youthful white, Trebbiano Abruzzese is rising to the Quality challenge. Light & fresh with anything from citrus to tropical fruit. Nice minerality. One varietal definitely worth your while looking out for.

our statsources

  • ISTAT – Italy’s Istituto Nazionale delle Statistiche (Census 2010 / Vineyard Production Figures 2013)
  • AIS – The Association of Italian Sommeliers – www.aisitalia.it
  • ‘I Numeri del Vino’ – Marco Baccaglio’s top Italian wine blog. Amazing numbers.
  • Wine Grapes – Robinson, Harding & Vouillamoz – lots of great grape stuff – BUY IT !
  • Native Wine Grapes of Italy – Ian D’Agata – extensive – Highly recommend its purchase !
  • Lavinium – Italian wine, food & culture. Brilliant. Only in Italian. Great reason to learn Italian!! www.lavinium.com

vintage information

All data is intended to be for indicative purposes only as naturally it varies from vintage to vintage. But we try to keep ourselves reasonably updated :)

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