📍 Marche

Marche is a region in central Italy between the Apennines and the Adriatic Sea. The IGT Marche regional wine covers all five provinces: Ancona, Ascoli Piceno, Fermo, Macerata and Pesaro e Urbino. Most vineyards lie on hills: in the Castelli di Jesi zone, from 96 m near Jesi to 630 m at Cingoli, about 20 km from the sea.

According to the Italian Ministry of Agriculture (MASAF), the region has 20 appellations: 5 DOCG and 15 DOC. The best-known white grape is Verdicchio. The DOCs Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi and Verdicchio di Matelica require at least 85 % of it, and the rules describe a hint of bitter almond on the palate. Matelica lies in the upper Esino valley at about 350 m, far from the sea, so its winters are cold.

Among the reds, Cònero DOCG stands out: at least 85 % Montepulciano, at least 2 years of ageing and the word Riserva required on the label. Rosso Piceno combines Montepulciano (35–85 %) with Sangiovese (15–50 %). Offida DOCG covers whites from Pecorino or Passerina and a red from Montepulciano.

The region's most unusual wine is Vernaccia di Serrapetrona DOCG. It is a sparkling red from Vernaccia nera: at least 40 % of the grapes are dried, the wine goes through three fermentations and goes on sale no earlier than 30 June of the following year.

Why it matters to you. The word Riserva on a Verdicchio from Castelli di Jesi or Matelica means at least 18 months of ageing. If a grape is named on a bottle of IGT Marche, it makes up no less than 85 % of it. White wines are served at 4–10 °C, reds at 15–18 °C.