The Taste of Abruzzo – Quality Wines
The charm of Abruzzo lies very much on the geographical variety the region offers and not to mention, the fact that it is still basically “untouched”. A place where Italy is still… well, I will go as far as saying, “still Italy”. A place where traditions have been carried on for centuries and modesty has always been a way of life and are mirrored in the elegant wines with an understated note being produced today.
When it comes to wine, Abruzzo has been making leaps and bounds in the last decades by raising its grape growing and wine making standards by focusing on quality rather than quantity. There are possibly some exceptions in when it comes to breaking with tradition but in this case it surely isn’t negative at all.
There are a variety of fine labels offering Montepulciano d’Abruzzo and Trebbiano wines of high quality at extremely favourable consumer prices which are adding to their international popularity.
Nature’s offerings
The calcium rich and moraine soils found in the mountainous west and the rolling hills with clay and sandy soils towards the Adriatic Sea to the east are very favourable wine growing conditions. 36 000 hectares are dedicated to wine growing with 80% found in the “Collina” region, sandwiched between the high Apennines and the 160 Kilometre segment of the Adriatic Coast.
The weather can be a little bit trickier when it comes to cooperating in the winegrowing process with a continental climate reigning inland and a milder climate present in the coastal region. The summers can be too dry at times and the sunny dry periods can change very quickly to rain and wind with little notice. The temperature can be as high as 30 ºC during the day and drop to as low as 10 ºC at night during the harvest. It is therefore that much more important to be able to “read” the weather properly in order to harvest in an efficient and optimal manner.
Working well with the natural conditions
The Abruzzo region has only recently begun shedding its image as a mass wine production region catering to the larger winemakers in the north who used the full bodied wines to add to their own blends.
Many of the positive changes have been brought about by internationally renowned and respected winemakers such as Gianni and Marina (Cvetic) Masciarelli and Edoardo Valentini (who unfortunately passed away in April 2006 at the age of 70 years). These winemakers have proven the high potential which Montepulciano d’Abruzzo and Trebbiano grape varieties possess by producing a number of elegant wines with an unmistakable territorial fingerprint which have gone on to become some of the finest wines which Italy has to offer.
Other stars in the region are Dino Illuminati, Luigi Cataldi (Cataldi Madonna) and Leonardo Pizzolo (Valle Reale), all of whom have gone on to receive the coveted Gambero Rosso “Tre Bicchieri” title in 2007 awarded only to Italy’s best wines. Other names to look out for on the international stage are La Valentina, Nicodemi, Barone Cornacchia, Zaccagnini, Monti and Corrado de Angelis Corvi.
One could go on praising the natural conditions and hard working winemakers in Abruzzo but I suggest you take the time to experience these fine wines for yourself, either in the region (where the wines always taste better) or by visiting your nearest wine dealer.
Santé!
