The hills of Teramo province rise from the Adriatic toward the Gran Sasso, and the vineyards between them grow structured Montepulciano. Cold mountain air drains across the vines at night while the coast keeps the days warm, and that daily swing holds acidity in a grape that ripens soft on warmer flatland. The soils are limestone and clay. In 2003 this corner became Colline Teramane, a DOCG, an Italian designation defining origin and production rules, separated from the wider Montepulciano d'Abruzzo appellation it sits inside.
Lower yields and longer ageing than regional Montepulciano
What changes here
Colline Teramane must contain at least ninety per cent Montepulciano, with Sangiovese permitted for the remainder. Its yield limit is about a third lower than the wider regional appellation's. The wine ages for two years, including one in oak or chestnut casks and six months in bottle; Riserva requires three years.
These wines tend to be darker and firmer than everyday Montepulciano, with black cherry, plum, mineral notes and tannin, the drying grip in red wine. Local dishes such as grilled lamb and aged pecorino make possible pairings.
Producers around Torano Nuovo, Notaresco and Atri
Names to know
Emidio Pepe has farmed at Torano Nuovo since 1964, treading grapes by foot and ageing the wines for decades; the estate precedes the DOCG by nearly forty years. Fattoria Nicodemi works the hills at Notaresco. Azienda Agricola Cirelli farms biodynamically near Atri, eight kilometres from the sea, and ferments Montepulciano in amphora, clay vessels, while Tenuta Antonini at Ancarano bottles the appellation as Corium.
Continue through the region
Elsewhere in Abruzzo
- Abruzzo — Region-wide9 producersAcross Abruzzo, wines include dark Montepulciano reds, Cerasuolo rosato and whites from Pecorino and Trebbiano. Higher inland sites tend to give fresher wines, while warmer coastal sites bring fuller, mellower fruit.
- Costa Teatina & Chieti hillsNo producers listed yetThe Chieti hills and coast grow Trebbiano, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Merlot, Passerina and Pecorino. Both the sea and nearby mountains influence the vineyards in this part of Abruzzo.
Producers in Colline Teramane (Teramo province)
Producer profiles
- Antica Cantina PietramoreAntica Cantina Pietramore cultivates more than 70 hectares biodynamically, producing wines from Trebbiano, Montepulciano, Pecorino, Passerina and Cerasuolo.
- Azienda Agricola CirelliAbruzzo mixed farm near Atri, with biodynamic certification and Montepulciano and Trebbiano made by spontaneous fermentation.
- 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.
- Tenuta AntoniniA four-generation family estate in Ancarano, Teramo, farming 30 hectares inside the Colline Teramane DOCG zone with Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and Pecorino.