History and facts

• Originally inhabited by the , Samnites and Piceni tribes • Part of the Roman Republic in the 3rd century BC • Romans developed viticulture • Kingdom of Sicily (12th century) • Rich ampeloghrapic heritage – phylloxera • Small in size but big in production (3rd) • Montepulciano is one of ’s most widely planted red grapes ’s geography

• Marche, Lazio, ,

• Divided in: – Coastal hills – Middle hills – Mountainous

• Vines mostly planted along the coastline

• The most mountainous region of Central/Southern Italy

• Abruzzo National Park (190 sq miles)

The mountainous heart of Italy

Gran Sasso Corno Grande 2912mt Tronto Trigno

Apennine mountains

The climate of Abruzzo goes from Mediterranean along the coastline to Mediterranean-mountainous heading West towards the pre-Apennine hills and lastly turning Continental/Alpine close to the central

The soils… sedimentary

Northern Abruzzo – soils predominantly rich in clay and the main training system is the Guyot

The coastline – soils are primarily of marine origin and sandy. The tendone was always the traditional system but in the last years Guyot is becoming more common

Mountainside Abruzzo – soils are calcareous marls and/ rocky, Guyot is the most used trellising system. The vine, history and characteristics

• First documentation in 1792 by Michele Torcia • Origin: supposedly came from Tuscany with the Medici family that established in Abruzzo the Baronia di Carapelle (1549) and Marchesato di Capestrana (1743) • Valle Peligna • Confusion with Montepulciano (Tuscany)

• Affected by asynchronous maturation • Late ripening variety (to fully mature the pips) • Very rich in Anthocyanins • Susceptible to Oidium • Medium sized bunch, pyramidal shaped, with somewhat oval shaped berries that have thick skin • Several clones available • Typical training system is the tendone abruzzese • Can produce, sparkling, dry and sweet red wines, as well as outstanding rosato Valle Peligna (from Greek) = peline/pelagus = muddy, was in pre-historic times covered by a very large lake

Some data

• Second most planted (red) variety after Sangiovese • As of 2016 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is the most productive DOC of Italy (for red wines) with 847/1000 hectoliters

• In Abruzzo it covers 56% (of the 63%) of the total vineyards planted to red grapes • The province of has the vastest plantings of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

• 17,000ha under vine Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC 85% 14t/ha Covers the whole regional Riserva 20mo ageing (9 Montepulciano territory in wood) Alto Tirino subzone 95% 9t/ha Aquila province Normale 12mo ageing Montepulciano Riserva 30mo ageing (9mo in wood) Casauria 100% 9,5t/ha province Normale 18mo ageing Montepulciano Riserva 30mo againeg (9mo in wood for both) Teate 90% 11t/ha Chieti province Normale 21mo ageing Montepulciano Riserva 30mo ageing (9mo in wood for both) Terre dei Peligni 95% 10t/ha Aquila province Normale 24mo ageing Montepulciano Riserva 30mo ageing (9mo in wood for both) Terre dei Vestini 90% 10t/ha Pescara province Normale 18mo ageing Montepulciano Riserva 30mo ageing (9mo in wood for both) Colline Teramane 90% 9,5t/ha Teramo province Normale 24mo ageing Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Montepulciano Riserva 36mo ageing DOCG (1yr in wood for both) Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC 85% 14t/ha Covers the whole regional Superiore version Montepulciano territory (12t/ha)

Production numbers

6% 10%

83%

1%

• Roughly 83% of the overall production comes from 40 co-ops (32 of them located in the Chieti province) • Tendone abruzzese still used in 80% of the regional territory but Guyot and Cordon Spur systems are growing • Major markets: Germany 23% - US 20% - Canada 10%

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC Colline Teramane Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Whole regional territory DOCG 85% Montepulciano Small area in the Versions: normale & Riserva 90% Montepulciano Yield 14T/ha Versions: normale & Riserva Alc 11.5% (12% for Riserva) Yield 9.5T/ha Riserva: 2yrs ageing (9mo in wood) Alc 12% Sub-zones: Normale: 1yr ageing • Alto Tirino Riserva: 3yr ageing (1yr in wood) • Casauria • Teate Production: 7.459hl • Terre dei Peligni • Terre dei Vestini Production: 847.383hl

Typical food products of Abruzzo

Pasta Extra virgin olive oil Saffron Pecorino Legumes Confetti di Sulmona Parrozzo Grazie and enjoy Montepulciano d’Abruzzo