| Montepulciano | |
|---|---|
| Grape (Vitis) | |
&sq=Envato&lang=en&file=File:Montepulciano_d_Abruzzo_03_(RaBoe).jpg) Montepulciano growing in Abruzzi | |
| Color of berry skin | Purple |
| Species | Vitis vinifera |
| Origin | Italy |
| Notable regions | Abruzzo |
| VIVC number | 7949 |
Montepulciano (UK: /ˌmɒnteɪpʊlˈtʃɑːnoʊ, -tɪp-/ MON-tay-puul-CHAH-noh, -tih-,[1] Italian: [ˌmontepulˈtʃaːno]) is a red Italian wine grape variety that is most noted for being the primary grape behind the DOCG wines Colline Teramane Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and Offida Rosso; and the DOC wines Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Rosso Conero, and Rosso Piceno Superiore.
It should not be confused with the similarly named Tuscan wine Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, which is made from predominantly Sangiovese and is named for the town it is produced in, rather than for containing any Montepulciano grapes in the blend.
The grape is widely planted throughout central and southern Italy, most notably in Abruzzo, Lazio, Marche, Molise, Umbria and Apulia, and is a permitted variety in DOC wines produced in 20 of Italy's 95 provinces. Montepulciano is rarely found in northern Italy because the grape has a tendency to ripen late and can be excessively "green" if harvested too early.
When fully ripened, Montepulciano can produce deeply colored wines, with moderate acidity and noticeable extract and alcohol levels.[2]
- ^ "Montepulciano". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 2020-08-05.
- ^ J. Robinson Jancis Robinson's Guide to Wine Grapes p. 112 Oxford University Press 1996. ISBN 0-19-860098-4.