Agriturismo La Brocca – Restaurant

Agriturismo “La Brocca” (Winner of the “Ospitalità Italiana” ISNART Award) is owned and run by Carla Di Crescenzo and her family: daughter Filomena, husband Maurizio and the “grandparents”. Founded in 1999, it has become quite an institution in the Chieti region and is popular with insiders for its authentic regional cuisine followed by very modest prices: where else can you get a 3 course meal for EUR 16,00 (wine and coffee included) and actually think, “Why aren’t I paying triple for this?”. That’s how good the food is here… and once again, priced very fairly. … Continue Reading

Antonio ed Elio Monti – Winery

The fact that some of the finest wines produced in Abruzzo come from the Controguerra region (in this case Contrada Pignotto) isn’t a secret but the wine’s being produced by Azienda Agricola Antonio ed Elio Monti, now run by cousins Emilia and Bruna Monti, still seem to be. The wines coming out of this family run winery are truly exceptional and by all means very serious in regards to their winemaking capabilities… the fact that Riccardo Cotarella has been at work here is very obvious. He’s been rated by Robert Parker as one of Italy’s top winemakers along with Angelo Gaja. … Continue Reading

Az. Agr. Masciarelli – Winery

San Martino sulla Marrucina is nestled amongst the rolling hills in the province of Chieti, located approx. 20 kilometres from the Adriatic Sea at the foot of the Maiella range. San Martino is the birthplace of the successful Villa Gemma range and Masciarelli has gone on to cultivate over 220 hectares (approx. 400 acres) of vineyards in all provinces in Abruzzo. Not only does Masciarelli cultivate grapes for winemaking but also produces fine olive oils… but that’s another chapter. … Continue Reading

Saffron of Navelli – Specialties

30 Kilometres from the city L’Aquila lies the elevated plain of Navelli which is renowned internationally for its cultivation of world class saffron. The harvest of the precious Crocus sativus, the Saffron flower takes place in October.

Those who have witnessed the Saffron harvest don’t question the high price of the spice which is dealt internationally as the most expensive spice in the world. Flower for flower is picked in painstaking (and may I add, backbreaking) manual labour and the red Saffron filaments … Continue Reading

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”. … Continue Reading