Abruzzo Flashcards
Which region rivals Toscana as the third-most productive region of central and southern Italy?
Abruzzo; although geographically small, it figures large on the Italian wine map.
Abruzzo is home to which historic producers of Italy?
- Valentini
- Emidio Pepe
- Masciarelli
Which grape variety is Abruzzo’s claim to fame and dominates the vineyards?
Montepulciano; one of Italy’s most widely planted grapes.
Abruzzo is notably famous for what distinctive rosato?
Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo; it is considered among Italy’s best. It ranks as highly as the rosatos from Salento and Lake Garda.
Which people inhabited Abruzzo before becoming part of the Roman Republic in the 3rd century BC?
The Aequi, the Samnites, and the Piceni tribes (among others).
How was the arrival of the Romans particularly beneficial for Abruzzo?
They promoted a more systematic way to cultivate vines and produce wine.
What happened to Abruzzo after the fall of the Roman Empire?
The region was annexed by the Lombards and became part of the Duchy of Spoleto. It earned independence as a county between the 9th and 12th centuries AD but was subsequently annexed by the Normans and incorprated into the Kingdom of Sicily which, with consolidations, morphed into the Kingdom of Italy in the late 19th century.
How did viticulture/wine production fair during the Renaissance in Abruzzo?
Historic documents indicate these flourised, particularly around the city of L’Aquila.
How was Abruzzo before and after phylloxera?
This region’s ampelographic heritage was rich and diverse.
After the crisis, vineyards were largely replanted with Montepulciano and the various Trebbianos, narrowing the region’s grape focus considerably.
Where is Abruzzo located?
This region is located in east-central Italy and faces the Adriatic Sea. Marche lies to the north, Molise to the south, and Lazio is situated to the west on the opposite side of the Central Apennines.
How is Abruzzo topographically divided?
Into 3 bands:
1. There is a strip of gentle hills along the coast
2. A middle swath of medium-elevation hills
3. And a large mountainous inland area.
Which region is the most mountainous in central/southern Italy?
Abruzzo; almost two-thirds of the territory is covered by mountains.
- 65% Mountains
- 35% Hills
- < 1% Plains
What are the mountain ranges found in Abruzzo?
- Massif of Gran Sasso: located in the north; possesses Abruzzo’s highest peaks (reaching almost 9,800ft/3,000m)
- Monti della Laga: lies on the border with Lazio and Marche
- Massif of Maiella: situated in the southern part of the region
What can you find interspersed among the mountain ranges of Abruzzo?
High elevation plateaus and amphitheater-like mountain basins.
These mountain ranges often rise steeply and abruptly over the landscape. They are largely covered in grass and are used for grazing animals.
What can you find planted in the hills of Abruzzo?
Vines and olive groves.
Describe the coastline of Abruzzo.
The very narrow coastline runs for 80mi/130km. Sandy beaches line the northern half, dense Mediterranean scrub lines the southern half.
Name the rivers of Abruzzo.
- Tronto
- Tordino
- Vomano
- Aterno-Pescara (longest)
- Sangro
These rivers run from the Apennines towards the coast to empty into the Adriatic Sea.
What is the climate in Abruzzo?
- The coastal band is Mediterranean with warm, dry summers and mild winters.
- The middle band of hills, especially those at higher elevation, receive less Mediterranean influence.
- The mountainous inland areas are largely continental, although the highest elevations are alpine. Here, winters are cold and summers are cool. Only the inland basins experience warm summers.
What topographical features contribute to the climate in Abruzzo?
The climate in this region is the result of an interplay between the sea and the mountains.
All of the region’s topographic bands are vulnerable to cold northeast winds which drop temperatures and bring snow in the winter.
How is the rate of rainfall in Abruzzo from month to month and across the topographical bands?
November is the rainiest month; July and August the driest. Rainfall levels increase moving from the coast to the middle band of hills to the mountains.
How is the temperature in Abruzzo across the different topographical bands?
Average temperatures are naturally the highest along the coastal band, intermediate in the middle band and lowest midst the mountain ranges.
What is one of the coldest cities in Italy?
The capital, L’Aquila, located in northwest Abruzzo, at the foot of the Apennines.
What soil types are found in Abruzzo?
- The sedimentary soils found on the coastal hills are of marine origin. Most are high in clay content but some areas - those closer to the coast and along the lower river valleys - have a higher percentage of sand.
- The middle band of hills have marl and sandstone soils with a high clay content.
The vineyards of Abruzzo are dominated by which 3 grapes?
- Monetpulciano
- Trebbiano Toscano
- Trebbiano Abruzzese
Together, they account for more than 80% of the total area under vine.
How do the amount of plantings for red grapes compare to that of white grapes in Abruzzo?
More than 60% of the area under vine is planted to red grapes.
White grapes account for less than 40% of the area under vine and most of this (almost 30%) is represented by the two Trebbianos (Toscano & Abruzzese)
What is the most widely planted grape variety in Abruzzo?
Montepulciano; It represents more than half of the total vineyard area.
Rank the grapes planted in Abruzzo from most to least in total vineyard area.
- Montepulciano (56%)
- Trebbiano Toscano (18%)
- Trebbiano Abruzzese (9%)
- Chardonnay (2%)
- Sangiovese (2%)
- Pecorino (2%)
- Merlot (2%)
-
Cococciola (1%)
Others (8%)
Name the native and traditional red varieties of Abruzzo.
- Montepulciano
Others:
* Sangiovese
How has Montepulciano changed in Abruzzo over the years?
In the past, the variety was widely used for the production of bulk blending wine (vino da taglio). It boosted weaker wines thanks to its deep colour, full body and high levels of alcohol and tannin.
Now, it is the grape of Abruzzo. It is native to this region and forms the base of practically all of Abruzzo’s red DOCs.
What are some characteristics of the Montepulciano grape?
- late-ripening
- needs long growing season to fully ripen
- productive variety
- thick skin
- good resistance to botrytis bunch rot and downy mildew.
What are the characteristics of wines made from Montepulciano?
The wines vary in quality and style from simple and easy-drinking to more intensely fruity, rich, fleshy and full-bodied.
The wines are deep ruby in colour with overt red cherry and plum fruit. They tend to be robust, full-bodied and high in alcohol with dense, ripe tannins.
What wine, other than red, is produced from the Montepulciano grape?
Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC; a structured, full bodied rosato.
Thanks to the grape’s high anthocyanin content and the near pink colour of the juice, rose production entails a very short maceration period on the skins.
What has contributed to the Montepulciano grape being historically confused with Sangiovese?
Much if it stems from the Tuscan down of Montepulciano where they have historically grown Sangiovese. Town and grape have created misunderstandings since the 16th century. However, these are two distinct grapes.
Name the native and traditional white varieties of Abruzzo.
- Trebbiano Toscano
- Trebbiano Abuzzese
- Pecorino
Others:
* Passerina
* Cococciola
* Montonico Bianco
* Malvasia Bianca
* Malvasia Bianca Lunga
* Malvasia Bianca di Candia
* Bombino Bianco
What is the most widely planted white grape in Abruzzo?
Trebbiano Toscano
It is allowed in all DOCs for the production of bianco and is often blended with Trebbiano Abruzzese.
