‘Abruzzo has perfect conditions for making full-bodied wines of exceptional quality, which are also robust, elegant and aromatic.’ Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Doc

50 years of everyday excellence

One of the top three Italian DOC wines in terms of sales, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC is the ambassador of viticulture in the Abruzzo region. This wine has pursued a path of development during its 50 years of DOC status which has involved increasing validation for the territory and a growing ambition for quality viticulture.

So renowned for its unspoilt nature that it has earned the name of “Green Region of Europe”, Abruzzo boasts an ancient winemaking tradition, documented in antiquity by Polybius and Ovid. The presence of the Montepulciano grape variety, by far the most prevalent today, dates back more than two centuries and benefits from the special microclimate of the region. Nestled between the Adriatic Sea and the Apennines, the area has perfect conditions for making full-bodied wines of exceptional quality, which are also robust, elegant and aromatic. It’s only in the last 40-50 years, however, that a new generation of entrepreneurs and oenologists has succeeded in fully developing the grape variety, making Montepulciano the region’s best wine.

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is a ruby red wine with purple reflections and aromas of red fruits and spices. Although good to drink when young, it is highly suited to ageing. Its versatility makes it ideal for everyday consumption yet it is equally capable of achieving great concentration and complexity over time.

Obtained entirely from vineyards located on hilly terrain or plateaus, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC accounts for more than 80% of the total DOC wines produced in Abruzzo. With about 685,000hl bottled, it is one of the top three DOC wines produced in Italy.

Celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of achieving DOC status will be the main theme of all initiatives in 2018 promoted by the Consorzio Tutela Vini d’ Abruzzo, founded in 2002 to promote the main DOC wines of the region.

At ProWein trade fair in Düsseldorf (18-20 March 2018), Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC will be displayed on the Consorzio’s stand by 38 wineries (Hall 16 - D71, E59 and F59), thus demonstrating its huge popularity in northern European countries, particularly in the UK, which is second in Europe after Germany and constantly growing.

‘The Consorzio Tutela Vini d’Abruzzo has ambitious goals for 2018,’ states President Valentino Di Campli. ‘We want to seize the opportunity of the 50th anniversary to raise awareness of the wines of Abruzzo - particularly Montepulciano d’ Abruzzo - as highquality products. To do this we will be organising a series of promotional activities and increasing our control of wineries in order to protect quality.’

‘Consequently, we have decided to adopt, as of 1st December next, the Government identification mark for all protected DOC wines. This remarkable achievement is part of a process of transparency and protection from the vineyard to the bottle, guaranteeing an excellent product that can be enjoyed on any occasion.’