Abruzzo

Abruzzo's vineyards run from the Adriatic coast into hills and substantial mountains. Elevation brings varied growing conditions. Higher sites have their own microclimates, while the rockier, generally well-drained mountain soils can give wines a mineral quality. Cooler inland vineyards tend to produce fresher, more incisive wines; warmer coastal sites lean toward fuller, mellower fruit.

Montepulciano accounts for more than half of the regional grape base. It can make lighter, rustic reds or more layered wines with plum, blackberry, leather, black pepper and good tannin. Trebbiano d'Abruzzo is a major white grape with its own DOC, joined by Pecorino, Passerina, Cococciola and Montonico. The region's protected wine structure includes Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo and Abruzzo DOC.

Colline Teramane has been Abruzzo's only DOCG since the 2003 harvest. In the Chieti hills and coastal zone, growers work with Trebbiano, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Merlot, Passerina and Pecorino.

Producer profiles

Begin with this selection, or open the full directory when you want every producer currently placed in Abruzzo.

• Antica Cantina PietramoreAntica Cantina Pietramore cultivates more than 70 hectares biodynamically, producing wines from Trebbiano, Montepulciano, Pecorino, Passerina and Cerasuolo.
• Azienda Agricola Chiusa Grande di Franco d'EusanioFamily estate in Nocciano, Abruzzo, founded by agronomist Franco D'Eusanio in 1991. Sixty hectares of organically farmed Montepulciano and Pinot Grigio across the hills between the Pescara and Nora river valleys. Flagship Perla Nera ages 18 months in barriques.
• Azienda Agricola CiavolichAbruzzese estate founded in 1853, now led by Chiara Ciavolich; native varieties, amphora-aged whites, and Montepulciano grown near a natural lake in Pianella.
• Azienda Agricola CirelliAbruzzo mixed farm near Atri, with biodynamic certification and Montepulciano and Trebbiano made by spontaneous fermentation.
• Azienda MarramieroFamily estate in Rosciano, Pescara, making Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC and Trebbiano d'Abruzzo from native Abruzzo grapes on a 270-metre hillside with more than a century of family vine cultivation behind it.
• Cantina ZaccagniniBolognano winery founded by Marcello Zaccagnini, making Tralcetto Pecorino and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo with a vine twig on each bottle neck.
• Chiusa GrandeOrganic Abruzzo estate farming three sites from Nocciano to 880-metre Capestrano, led by Franco D'Eusanio and family since 1991.
• Ciavolich Azienda AgricolaA family estate at Loreto Aprutino in the province of Pescara, Abruzzo, farming Montepulciano, Trebbiano, Cococciola, and Pecorino across fifty hectares split between two properties, with a winery history going back to 1853.
• Fattoria Giuseppe SaviniFourth-generation family estate in the Marche with 600 hectares of mixed farmland, producing Shedar Frizzante, a coast-influenced sparkling blend of Chardonnay and Pecorino.
• Fattoria La ValentinaAbruzzese family estate in Spoltore, Pescara province, farming only indigenous varieties under ICEA organic certification and building its range entirely around Montepulciano d'Abruzzo.
• Soc Coop Ag Olearia Vinicola OrsognaLarge Abruzzese cooperative with 300 member-growers farming 1,500 hectares entirely under organic certification, half under Demeter biodynamic, between the Maiella massif and the Adriatic. Wines released under the Lunaria label.
• Tenuta AntoniniA four-generation family estate in Ancarano, Teramo, farming 30 hectares inside the Colline Teramane DOCG zone with Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and Pecorino.