Abruzzo

Abruzzo is a mountainous wine region in central Italy, stretching from the high peaks of the Apennines down to the Adriatic coast roughly 80 kilometers east of Rome. It is best known for three wines that share its name: the deeply colored red Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, the crisp white Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, and the vivid rosé Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo. By volume, Abruzzo is Italy's fifth most productive wine region, turning out more than 22 million cases each year across its four provinces of L'Aquila, Teramo, Pescara, and Chieti.

Landscape and Production

The region is dramatically shaped by its terrain: about 65 percent of Abruzzo is mountainous, anchored by Gran Sasso at 2,912 meters and Mount Majella at 2,793 meters, the two tallest summits of the Apennine chain. Vineyards spread from inland hillsides down toward the coast, with the bulk of the wine grown in the southern provinces of Chieti and Pescara.

Roughly 80 percent of Abruzzo's wine comes from large cooperative wineries, which has historically made the region a source of reliable, affordable bottlings rather than a hub of small artisan estates. Only about 21.5 percent of total production qualifies for DOC status, but that fraction includes the wines that have earned Abruzzo its international reputation.

Principal Grapes and Styles

Red grapes account for around 70 percent of plantings, with Montepulciano firmly in the lead, followed by Sangiovese, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. White varieties make up the remaining 30 percent and are led by Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, alongside Pecorino, Passerina, Chardonnay, and Moscato.

Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo, the region's signature rosé, gets its deep cherry color from a brief maceration with pigmented Montepulciano skins, giving it more body and structure than typical pale roses. The white Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, meanwhile, offers a fresh, food-friendly counterpoint to the region's reds and rosé.

Appellations and Aging

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo received its DOC in 1968 and requires at least 85 percent Montepulciano grape, with up to 15 percent Sangiovese permitted and a minimum alcohol level of 12 percent. The Riserva version raises the minimum to 12.5 percent ABV and demands at least two years of aging, including nine months in wood barrels.

The region's top-tier appellations climb further still. Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Colline Teramane, first recognized as a DOC in 1995, was promoted to DOCG in 2003 and requires a minimum of 90 percent Montepulciano. In 2019, Terre Tollesi, also called Tullum, became Abruzzo's second DOCG. Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo was carved out as its own DOC in 2010, and Trebbiano d'Abruzzo has held DOC status since 1972.