Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Montepulciano grapes growing in the Abruzzo region of east-central Italy

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is an Italian red wine made from the Montepulciano wine grape in the Abruzzo region of east-central Italy. It should not be confused with Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, a Tuscan wine made from Sangiovese and other grapes.[1]

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo was first classified as Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) in 1968. The Colline Teramane subzone, established in 1995 as a DOC in the province of Teramo, was promoted to separate Denominazione di origine controllata e garantita (DOCG) status in 2003 and is now known as Colline Teramane Montepulciano d'Abruzzo.[2][3] In the late 20th and early 21st century, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo earned a reputation as one of the most widely exported DOC wines in Italy.[3] It is typically dry with soft tannins and often consumed young.

In addition to Montepulciano, up to 15% Sangiovese is permitted in the blend. Wines aged by the maker for more than two years may be labeled Riserva.[4]

  1. ^ Robinson, Jancis; Harding, Julia, eds. (2015). "Montepulciano". The Oxford Companion to Wine (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 474. ISBN 978-0-19-870538-3.
  2. ^ P. Saunders Wine Label Language pp. 182 Firefly Books 2004 ISBN 1-55297-720-X
  3. ^ a b Bastianich, Joseph; Lynch, David (2005). Vino Italiano: the regional wines of Italy. New York: Clarkson Potter. p. 280–3. ISBN 9781400097746. OCLC 76920977.
  4. ^ Robinson, Jancis, Vines, Grapes & Wines, p.212, Mitchell Beazley 1986, ISBN 1-85732-999-6