📍 Abruzzo

Abruzzo is a region of central Italy lying between the Apennines and the Adriatic Sea. In the west rise the Gran Sasso and Maiella massifs, while a belt of hills 20–25 km wide and about 125 km long runs down to the sea, from the Tronto river to the Trigno. The region has four provinces: Chieti, L'Aquila, Pescara and Teramo. To the south it borders Molise.

The mountains shelter the hills from cold westerly winds, so day and night temperatures differ markedly. Rainfall exceeds 800 mm a year, most of it in November and December, and the driest month is July. Vineyards climb as high as 700 m, while damp valley floors are off limits to them.

According to the lists of the Italian Ministry of Agriculture (MASAF), there are 12 appellations here: 3 DOCG, 7 DOC and 2 IGT. The most famous is Montepulciano d'Abruzzo: at least 85 % of the grape of the same name, and not released before 1 February of the following year. The earliest known mention of the grape in Abruzzo dates from 1792. The same grape gives the rosé Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo, while the white Trebbiano d'Abruzzo is made from Trebbiano abruzzese and toscano.

Three Montepulciano wines hold the top DOCG category: Colline Teramane (at least 90 %, riserva aged 3 years or more), Terre Tollesi from the commune of Tollo, and Casauria, registered in the EU in 2025.

Why it matters to you. Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is named after a grape and a region, not the Tuscan town: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is made from Sangiovese. Cerasuolo is a separate appellation for rosé with a short maceration of 8–12 hours. Reds are served at 15–18 °C.