Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Encyclopedia
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is a red Italian wine
made from the Montepulciano
wine grape
in the Abruzzo region of east-central Italy
. The wine was classified as Denominazione di origine controllata
(DOC) in 1968 with a separate Denominazione di origine controllata e Garantita (DOCG) for wine produced around Teramo
established in 1995 and promoted in 2003 (where it is officially called Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Colline Teramane).
In addition to Montepulciano, up to 15% Sangiovese
is also permitted to be added to the blend. It is typically a dry wine with soft tannins that is often consumed young. If aged by the winery for more than two years, the wine may be labeled "Riserva."
In the late 20th and early 21st century, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo earned a reputation as being one of the most widely exported DOC classed wine in Italy. However, the wine should not be confused with Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
, a Tuscan wine made from Sangiovese and other grapes, but not the Montepulciano variety that is also widely exported.
clay
benefit from warm and significant sun exposure that is ventilated by dry breezes coming off the Adriatic.
Montepulciano is produced in all four provinces of Abruzzo--L'Aquila
, Chieti
, Pescara
and Teramo
--with the southern fertile province of Chieti producing the largest total quantity of wine. The mountainous province of L'Aquila is noted mainly for the dry rose labeled as Cerasuolo produced in the DOC. The most favorable vineyards are planted in the northern provinces of Pescara and Teramo with the later having it own DOCG designation above Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. These northern provinces benefit from having less fertile soils with more ferrous
clay and limestone
mix and higher elevations as the Appennines draw closer to the Adriatic. This creates cooler micro-climates that tend to produce more concentrated wines.
In 2004, there were approximately 18000 acres (7,284.3 ha) planted in the DOC. In 2005, the DOC produced over 500,000 hectoliters of wine with more than two thirds of it being produced in the Chieti province.
(where it is usually labeled as Cerasuolo). The wine must be composed of a minimum of 85% Montepulciano with up to 15% of Sangiovese permitted to fill out the remainder of the wine. Grapes are harvest
ed to a yield
no greater than 14 tonnes per hectare
.
The wine must be aged for a minimum of 5 months prior to release with bottles labeled as Vecchio further aged a minimum of two years in wood barrels. Additionally, all Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wines must have a minimum alcohol level of at least 12%.
and 30 surrounding communes. Established first as a DOC in 1995, the region was promoted to DOCG status in 2003. The regulations for the wine are similar to Montepulciano d'Abruzzo except that the wine needs to be made from a minimum of 90% Montepulciano with a maximum of 10% Sangiovese permitted.
According to wine expert Oz Clarke
, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is often a deeply colored wine with pepper and spice notes. It can be described as "rustic" which Clarke says is less pronounced when the wine is paired with food. Master of Wine
Mary Ewing-Mulligan
describes the wines as aromatic, tannic and with low acidity. According to Italian wine expert Joe Bastianich, Montepulciano d'Abruzzos can be highly aromatic with earthy notes and black berries and have inky-purple color with a thick, almost syrupy mouthfeel
.
While Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is often consumed young, the wine does have some aging potential with producers such as Stefano Illuminati of the Controguerra
winery Illuminati noting that the wine doesn't really change much in 10 years which can have its benefits and disadvantages because "on one hand, you open a well-aged Montepulciano and it is still fresh and full-bodied. On the other hand, you don't always get the more complex secondary aromas that develop with age."
with the highly pigmented skins of the Montepulciano grape. According to Bastianich, Cerasuolos tend to be medium-body and rather heart for an Italian rosé with aromas of orange peel, cinnamon
, strawberry and dried cherries.
Italian wine
Italian wine is wine produced in Italy, a country which is home to some of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world. Italy is the world's largest wine producer, responsible for approximately one-fifth of world wine production in 2005. Italian wine is exported largely around the world and has...
made from the Montepulciano
Montepulciano (grape)
Montepulciano is a red Italian wine grape variety that is most noted for being the primary grape behind the Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita wine Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Colline Teramane and the Denominazione di origine controllata wines of Rosso Conero and Rosso Piceno.It should...
wine grape
Vitis vinifera
Vitis vinifera is a species of Vitis, native to the Mediterranean region, central Europe, and southwestern Asia, from Morocco and Portugal north to southern Germany and east to northern Iran....
in the Abruzzo region of east-central Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. The wine was classified as Denominazione di origine controllata
Denominazione di Origine Controllata
Denominazione di origine controllata is a quality assurance label for food products, especially wines and various formaggi . It is modelled after the French AOC...
(DOC) in 1968 with a separate Denominazione di origine controllata e Garantita (DOCG) for wine produced around Teramo
Teramo
Teramo is a city and comune in the central Italian region of Abruzzo, the capital of the province of Teramo.The city, from Rome, is situated between the highest mountains of the Apennines and the Adriatic coast...
established in 1995 and promoted in 2003 (where it is officially called Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Colline Teramane).
In addition to Montepulciano, up to 15% Sangiovese
Sangiovese
Sangiovese is a red Italian wine grape variety whose name derives from the Latin sanguis Jovis, "the blood of Jove"...
is also permitted to be added to the blend. It is typically a dry wine with soft tannins that is often consumed young. If aged by the winery for more than two years, the wine may be labeled "Riserva."
In the late 20th and early 21st century, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo earned a reputation as being one of the most widely exported DOC classed wine in Italy. However, the wine should not be confused with Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is a red wine with Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita status produced in the vineyards surrounding the town of Montepulciano, Italy. The wine is made primarily from the Sangiovese grape varietal , blended with Canaiolo Nero and small amounts of other...
, a Tuscan wine made from Sangiovese and other grapes, but not the Montepulciano variety that is also widely exported.
Wine region
The DOC region for Montepulciano d'Abruzzo covers a vast expanse of land in the Abruzzo region between the Apennines foothills down to the a few miles inland from the Adriatic coast. The region is one of Italy's most mountainous with more than 65% of all Abruzzo being considered mountainous terrain with the Apennines peaks reaching up to 9000 feet above sea level. The hillside vineyards planted on calcareousCalcareous
Calcareous is an adjective meaning mostly or partly composed of calcium carbonate, in other words, containing lime or being chalky. The term is used in a wide variety of scientific disciplines.-In zoology:...
clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
benefit from warm and significant sun exposure that is ventilated by dry breezes coming off the Adriatic.
Montepulciano is produced in all four provinces of Abruzzo--L'Aquila
Province of L'Aquila
thumb|left|200px|Map of the province.The Province of L'Aquila is the largest, most mountainous and least densely populated province of the Abruzzo region of central Italy. It comprises about half the landmass of Abruzzo and occupies the western part of the region...
, Chieti
Province of Chieti
The Province of Chieti is a province in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Chieti.It has an area of 2,588 km², and a total population of 381,993...
, Pescara
Province of Pescara
The Province of Pescara is a province in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Pescara.It has an area of 1,225 km², and a total population of 295,463 . There are 46 comunes in the province. At May 31, 2005, the main communes by population are:For a complete list, see Comunes of...
and Teramo
Province of Teramo
The Province of Teramo is located in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Teramo. The province has an area of 1,948 km², a population of 296,063 , and is subdivided into 47 comunes , see Comunes of the Province of Teramo...
--with the southern fertile province of Chieti producing the largest total quantity of wine. The mountainous province of L'Aquila is noted mainly for the dry rose labeled as Cerasuolo produced in the DOC. The most favorable vineyards are planted in the northern provinces of Pescara and Teramo with the later having it own DOCG designation above Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. These northern provinces benefit from having less fertile soils with more ferrous
Ferrous
Ferrous , in chemistry, indicates a divalent iron compound , as opposed to ferric, which indicates a trivalent iron compound ....
clay and limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
mix and higher elevations as the Appennines draw closer to the Adriatic. This creates cooler micro-climates that tend to produce more concentrated wines.
In 2004, there were approximately 18000 acres (7,284.3 ha) planted in the DOC. In 2005, the DOC produced over 500,000 hectoliters of wine with more than two thirds of it being produced in the Chieti province.
DOC requirements
Under Italian wine laws, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo can be produced in as a roséRosé
A rosé is a type of wine that has some of the color typical of a red wine, but only enough to turn it pink. The pink color can range from a pale orange to a vivid near-purple, depending on the grapes and wine making techniques.- Production techniques :There are three major ways to produce rosé...
(where it is usually labeled as Cerasuolo). The wine must be composed of a minimum of 85% Montepulciano with up to 15% of Sangiovese permitted to fill out the remainder of the wine. Grapes are harvest
Harvest (wine)
The harvesting of wine grapes is one of the most crucial steps in the process of winemaking. The time of harvest is determined primarily by the ripeness of the grape as measured by sugar, acid and tannin levels with winemakers basing their decision to pick based on the style of wine they wish to...
ed to a yield
Yield (wine)
In viticulture, the yield is a measure of the amount of grapes or wine that is produced per unit surface of vineyard, and is therefore a type of crop yield...
no greater than 14 tonnes per hectare
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
.
The wine must be aged for a minimum of 5 months prior to release with bottles labeled as Vecchio further aged a minimum of two years in wood barrels. Additionally, all Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wines must have a minimum alcohol level of at least 12%.
Colline Teramane DOCG
Within the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC region is the smaller Colline Teramane DOCG that is produced in the province of Teramo from vineyards planted in TeramoTeramo
Teramo is a city and comune in the central Italian region of Abruzzo, the capital of the province of Teramo.The city, from Rome, is situated between the highest mountains of the Apennines and the Adriatic coast...
and 30 surrounding communes. Established first as a DOC in 1995, the region was promoted to DOCG status in 2003. The regulations for the wine are similar to Montepulciano d'Abruzzo except that the wine needs to be made from a minimum of 90% Montepulciano with a maximum of 10% Sangiovese permitted.
Wine styles
Oz Clarke
Robert "Oz" Clarke is a British wine writer, television presenter and broadcaster.-Biography:Clarke’s parents were a chest physician and a nursing sister. He was brought up near Canterbury with a brother and a sister. Clarke became a chorister at Canterbury Cathedral and subsequently won a choral...
, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is often a deeply colored wine with pepper and spice notes. It can be described as "rustic" which Clarke says is less pronounced when the wine is paired with food. Master of Wine
Master of Wine
Master of Wine is a qualification issued by The Institute of Masters of Wine in the United Kingdom...
Mary Ewing-Mulligan
Mary Ewing-Mulligan
Mary Ewing-Mulligan is an American author, wine educator and Master of Wine, the first American woman to achieve this accreditation. She has been the director of the school International Wine Center since 1984, and is executive director of the U.S. programs for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust...
describes the wines as aromatic, tannic and with low acidity. According to Italian wine expert Joe Bastianich, Montepulciano d'Abruzzos can be highly aromatic with earthy notes and black berries and have inky-purple color with a thick, almost syrupy mouthfeel
Mouthfeel
Mouthfeel is a product's physical and chemical interaction in the mouth, an aspect of food rheology. It is a concept used in many areas related to the testing and evaluating of foodstuffs, such as wine-tasting and rheology. It is evaluated from initial perception on the palate, to first bite,...
.
While Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is often consumed young, the wine does have some aging potential with producers such as Stefano Illuminati of the Controguerra
Controguerra
Controguerra is a town and comune in Teramo province in the Abruzzo region of eastern Italy.-Controguerra DOC:Controguerra is noted for the Italian DOC wine produced in the hills and a valley near the commune. The area produces a wide variety of wine styles including, red, white, passito and...
winery Illuminati noting that the wine doesn't really change much in 10 years which can have its benefits and disadvantages because "on one hand, you open a well-aged Montepulciano and it is still fresh and full-bodied. On the other hand, you don't always get the more complex secondary aromas that develop with age."
Cerasuolo
The rosé style of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is labeled as Cerasuolo which means "cherry-red" and relates to the deep color the wine gets even with very brief skin-contactMaceration (wine)
Maceration is the winemaking process where the phenolic materials of the grape— tannins, coloring agents and flavor compounds— are leached from the grape skins, seeds and stems into the must. Maceration is the process by which the red wine receives its red color, since 99% of all grape juice is...
with the highly pigmented skins of the Montepulciano grape. According to Bastianich, Cerasuolos tend to be medium-body and rather heart for an Italian rosé with aromas of orange peel, cinnamon
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several trees from the genus Cinnamomum that is used in both sweet and savoury foods...
, strawberry and dried cherries.