Abruzzo

Question 1

What styles are made in Abruzzo DOC?

Answer 1

Bianco from Trebbiano Abruzzese and/or Trebbiano Toscano

Varietal Bianchi

Spumante Bianco and Rosé (Charmat method or Metodo Classico)

Rosso from Montepulciano

Passito Bianco and Passito Rosso

Question 2

What styles are made in Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC?

Answer 2

Montepulciano-based Rosato and Rosato Superiore

Question 3

What styles are made in Controguerra DOC?

Answer 3

Similar to Abruzzo DOC:

Bianco from Trebbiano Toscano

Varietal Bianchi

Spumante Metodo Classico

Passito Bianco, Passito Rosso, (Both available “Annoso”)

Rosato, Rosso, Riserva, and Novello from Montepulciano

Varietal Merlot and Cabernet (Sauvignon and Franc)

Question 4

What styles are made in Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Colline Terramane DOCG?

Answer 4

Rosso and Rosso Riserva only from from a min 90% Montepulciano and a max of 10% Sangiovese

Question 5

What are the standard styles made in Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC?

Answer 5

Rosso and Rosso Riserva from a min 85% Montepulciano

Question 6

What styles are made in Ortona DOC?

Answer 6

Bianco from Trebbiano

Rosso from Montepulciano

Question 7

What white styles are made in Terre Tollesi DOC?

Answer 7

Bianco Trebbiano

Varietal Bianchi

Spumante Bianco (Brut Nature to Dolce) from Chardonnay

Passito Bianco from Malvasia and/or Moscato

Rosso, Rosso Riserva, Rosso Novello, and Passito Rosso from a min 90% Montepulciano

Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sangiovese

Question 8

What styles are made in Trebbiano d’Abruzzo DOC?

Answer 8

Bianco, Bianco Superiore, and Bianco Riserva from a min. 85% combined Trebbiano

Question 9

What styles are made in Villamagna DOC?

Answer 9

Rosso and Rosso Riserva from min 95% Montepulciano

Question 10

What is “Annoso”?

Answer 10

Passito wines that are aged for min 30 months in barrels of max 500 liter capacity beginning March 31 on the year after harvest.

Question 11

What are the aging requirements for Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Colline Terramane DOCG?

Answer 11

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Colline Teramane: Minimum 2 years from November 1 of the harvest year, including a minimum one year in either oak or chestnut and a minimum 6 months in bottle

Riserva: Minimum 3 years from November 1 of the harvest year, including a minimum one year in either oak or chestnut and a minimum 6 months in bottle

Question 12

What is the min ABV of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Colline Terramane DOCG?

Answer 12

12.5% ABV

Question 13

Describe Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Colline Terramane DOCG:

Answer 13

Essentially the classico zone of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (Although the region’s two premier producers, Edoardo Valentini and the naturalistic Emidio Pepe, release their reds simply as Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC.) While Montepulciano d’Abruzzo requires 85% Montepulciano, the DOCG raises the minimum to 90%, and stipulates two years of aging, including one year in wood. Riserva wines are aged for a minimum three years.

Question 14

Name two producers in Abruzzo:

Answer 14

Emidio Pepe
Azienda Agricola Valenti (Edoardo Valenti)
Illuminati

Question 15

Describe Abruzzo as a region:

Answer 15

Immediately south of the Marches on the Adriatic Coast, Abruzzo is a huge contributor to Italy’s lower quality wine lake. The Montepulciano grape is the region’s most cultivated varietal and the second most planted red grape in Italy. It easily produces ripe, tannic and full-bodied wines of deep color. Rosato versions of the wine are called Cerasuolo in reference to the cherry red hue of the rosés.

Question 16

What are the main white grapes of Abruzzo?

Answer 16

Trebbiano (Trebbiano d’Abruzzo and Trebiano Toscano aka Ugni Blanc / St. Émilion)

Cococciola
Malvasia
Montonico
Passerina
Pecorino
Chardonnay (in sparkling wines)

Question 17

What are the main red grapes of Abruzzo?

Answer 17

Montepulciano

Cabernet (Franc and Sauvignon)
Merlot
Sangiovese
Pinot Noir (in sparkling wines)