The Abruzzo wine region

The Abruzzo wine region is located in east-central Italy bordering the Adriatic coast. Wine has been grown here since antiquity. At that time, mainly in Valle Peligna which is located inland, 50 km south of the town of L’Aquila. Today, the vineyard has been restructured and has expanded to more accessible areas around the coast of the Adriatic Sea. You can therefore divide the vineyard into 2 different terroirs where the more difficult inland climate with very varying temperatures represents one part and then the more coastal part with a more hilly landscape and milder climate. Most of the viticulture is done today in the province of Chieti, around the city with the same name.

Abruzzo borders the Marche to the north and the regions are divided by the river Tronto. To the west, Abruzzo borders the region of Lazio via the Central Apennines, to the east to the Adriatic Sea and to the south, the Abruzzo reach the river Trigno, which borders the Molise region.

The Abruzzo wine production

In total, almost 3 million hectoliters of wine are produced, of which a little more than half is red or rosé and the rest white. It represents about 6% of Italy’s wine production, but The Abruzzo wine region represents as much as 10% of simple table wine, vino di tavola. It is thus a wine region that, despite its very fine and interesting wines, produces a large number of simple wines, often good value for money that are not least exported. The Abruzzo wine region represents only 4% of Italy’s DOC wines, although Montepulciano d’Abruzzo and Trebbiano d’Abruzzo are 2 of the most important appellations in Italy.

The Abruzzo grape varieties

The Abruzzo is probably best known for its Montepulciano grape used for the Montepulciano d’Abruzzo wine and represent more than half of the region’s 32,000 hectares of cultivated land and the trend is increasing. Montepulciano is also used for another DOC wine which is the Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo. The other major grape variety in the Abruzzo is white and is called Trebbiano and is used in the production of Trebbiano d’Abruzzo wines. Trebbiano represents just over 40% of the cultivated land. Trebbiano creates fresh and crispy wines. In addition, other local white grapes such as Montonico are also grown. Montonico is a grape variety that is vinified both as white wine and sparkling according to the classic method.

Atri with the Gran Sasso massif in the background.

Among the red grape varieties we find next to the Montepulciano grape, the Tuscan Sangiovese and the more international Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

The Abruzzo types of wine

The Abruzzo produces 2 DOCG wines, 7 DOC wines and 8 IGT wines which you will find described in the table below: