Abruzzo Flashcards
Growing Environment
Divided into hillside vineyards under the Apennines and flatter coastal zone.
Hillsides are continental with cold snowy winters and warm short summers with cooling from the mountains. Longer season greater development of aromas and flavors. Spring frosts and autumn rains.
Coastal zone is Maritime and Mediterranean. Lower risk of frost and autumn rain. Temps are higher and soils more fertile. Suited to high volume wines.
Viticulture
Historically low density pergola training.
Now moving to higher densities.
In coastal zone, cordon trained spur pruned or Guyot. Machines and mechanical harvest.
Hillside mostly done by hand.
Grapes
Montepulciano: 55%
Trebbiano Toscano: 19%
Trebbiano Abruzzese: 5%
Chardonnay, Sangiovese, Pecorino: <5%
Trebbiano Abruzzese
Uncertain relationship to other Trebbiano’s
Mid to late ripening, vigorous, productive
Well suited to Pergola as high training is appropriate for the size of the vines and provides fruit with shade.
Prone to powdery mildew
DOC’s
Trebbiano d’Abruzzo DOC: Can use either Trebbiano (Aburzzese or Toscano) with Toscano the lower quality of the two. 98hl/ha max. Made protectively with cool fermentation, blocked malo, aged in stainless. Acceptable to good. Valentini’s is one of Italy’s best whites and super prem. Masciarelli another good producer.
Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC: Rose wine. Historically very dark, now lighter. Short maceration (up to 12 hours) or direct press. Some make rose as a by product of red wine (saignee). Med to med plus body. Montepulciano rich in anthocyanins so maceration short.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
Made in the same two styles as noted in Marche. High tannins may be softened by light extraction (short time on skins). Still deep color due to high anthocyanins. Some use up to 15% Merlot or Primitivo. High quality will have time in barrel or bottle age to soften. Large oak common some small barriques for top.
Three levels of wine:
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC: Must be grown on hilly sites. 98hl/ha max. At this level, light and low concentration
Five official sub zones: 66hl/ha and 18 mo of aging 6 in oak. More concentration
Colline Teramane Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOCG. A former subzone. 66hl/ha; 2 years of aging one in oak.
The DOC wines do not have to be bottled in the region of origin (unusual). Used to add color and alcohol to other region’s wines.
Typ deep ruby, med red cherry and plu, med plus body, high tannin. Inexpensive to mid. Mid priced are aged in oak. Some DOCG’s are very good and premium
Wine Business
75% from 40 coops
Valentini (super prem); Masciarelli
Coop Cantina Tollow with exports 35%
