Abruzzo wine region

Strictly speaking, Abruzzo is no longer an insider tip when it comes to strong red wines, charming white wines and playful rosé - enjoy the region in the east of Rome it has long had a good reputation among connoisseurs. In this article, we take a closer look at what characterizes the special features of the cultivation area.

The location of the growing area

Abruzzo is in the middle of the Italian boot, east of Rome. The cultivation area, which stretches 130 km along the Adriatic coast, includes vineyards with a vineyard area of ​​37,000 hectares. As the seventh largest wine-growing region in Italy, it may not be a giant like nearby Tuscany, but there are still some refined wines for connoisseurs to discover.

Geographically, the area, with its slopes at 600 meters above sea level, is characterized mainly by the influence of the Apennines. In addition, Abruzzo is located in one of the greenest areas of Europe. 38 nature reserves cover almost half of the area, in which everything is available that is needed for the production of refined and sustainable wines.

The region is divided into four provinces:

• L'Aquila
• Teramo
• Pescara
• Chieti

Geological and climatic conditions

Abruzzo is characterized above all by its diversity. While one part of the area is characterized by rugged cliffs, the other is dominated by rolling hills covered in lush greenery. Lime, clay, sand and gravel are the dominant soils.

The area is also climatically balanced. The climate in the hilly and foothill areas has a strong Mediterranean influence, with temperatures ranging from 2°C in winter to 28°C in summer. While the summer months are warm and dry, the winter climate is cooler and wetter. This is not least because the Apennines protect the area from most western storms.

Temperatures remain warm in the foothills during the day, while falling in the evening. In addition, there are sea breezes blowing inland from the east during the day, which cool the vines. These conditions create an optimal balance of tartaric acid and sugar.

The history of the wine region

Abruzzo was not always the famous wine region it is today. For many decades there were only two designated growing areas - Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC and Trebbiano d'Abruzzo DOC.

Like most of Europe, the area was severely affected by the 1998 phylloxera eradication regime. It offered incentives to winegrowers to clear their growing areas to counteract the wine surplus.

In 2002, however, many winegrowers in the region came together and founded a consortium with the aim of protecting Abruzzo wines. Today this consortium has more than 130 members who are committed to sustainable quality assurance of the Abruzzo vines. In doing so, they not only ensure compliance with production standards, but also take action against counterfeiting and promote tourism in the region. Thanks to this commitment, there are now many interesting and successful wines from the area.

Wines from Abruzzo

Despite its central location, Abruzzo has a southern culture culturally - starting with the rich seafood dishes, continuing with the many hours of sunshine and ending with the slow, leisurely life on the Adriatic Sea. These characteristics are also noticeable in the wine. Here you will find a large variety of elegant, but not too heavy wines, which are particularly popular as food companions.

In the four provinces of Abruzzo there are two DOCGs, seven DOCs and eight IGPs: Montepulciano d'Abbruzoo Colline Teramane and Tullum. The annual production of the wine-growing region amounts to around 4 million hectoliters. The majority of these are of predominantly local importance. This is mainly due to the massively increased yields per hectare of up to 140 hl/ha since the 1980s. This means that the wine-growing region regularly occupies the inglorious top spot among Italian mass producers. Cooperative wineries are mainly active here, which, despite one or the other solid wine, mainly produce in quantity.

A total of eight DOC wines are produced in Abruzzo:

• Abruzzo
• Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo
• Controguerra
• Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
• Terre Tollesi
• Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, Ortona, Villamagna

When it comes to white wines, the Trebbiano variety dominates in the region, which is also often referred to as Bombino. It is characterized by its delicate fruity and light note. The wines are particularly interesting when they come from older plants and from a careful cellar expansion.

The red wines have a better reputation, especially the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, which needs a lot of sun and a long maturation period on the vine, but occasionally shows itself in the elegant Bordeaux style or with spicy and mineral notes.

A highlight that is particularly popular in summer is the strong rosé version of Montepulciano, which is called Cerasuolo.