We will be pouring 5 wines from Abruzzo 4 - 8pm for $12 a flight with 3 additional tastes for purchase.
Tucked along the eastern coast of Italy, Abruzzo is one of Europe’s greatest gems, home to breathtaking landscapes, delicious regional cuisine, and of course, characterful and stunning wines. Though Italy as a whole has long been known around the world for its winemaking prowess, it’s only in recent years that Abruzzo has captured the hearts of U.S. consumers, making it an exceptional discovery for many.
Abruzzo is a natural haven for grape growing, with over 32,000 hectares of vines planted across the region. Bright, sunny days, a large diurnal shift, and moderating influences from the Apennine Mountains to the north and the Adriatic Sea to the east make it the perfect place for grapes to thrive.
Generally, Abruzzo’s landscape is divided into two areas. The inland, mountainous land is home to a continental climate, making up more than 65 percent of the region, while the coastal area has a strip of hilly land and a milder climate. Much of Abruzzo’s vines are found in this hilly, coastal area today.
Not to be confused with Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (a Sangiovese-based wine from Tuscany), the Montepulciano grape is indigenous to Abruzzo, and is an embodiment of the region itself. In fact, about 70 percent of new vineyards have been planted to Montepulciano. Known for creating appealingly rustic, solidly built wines with supple texture and pronounced fruit, Montepulciano has become the gateway grape for many U.S. consumers to get to know Abruzzo, particularly in its key DOC: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.
Altavilla Pecorino IGT Abruzzo 2021 $13 Straw yellow color with green highlights. Bouquet of yellow fruits. Fresh, flinty, and elegant.
Il Nido Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2023 $13 Intense violet robe. Aromas of plum and ripe blackberry. Each sip delivers a mouthful of ripe berries, leather and black pepper with subtle hints of oregano, dried herbs and a touch of vanilla.
Umani Ronchi Montepulciano D'Abruzzo Podere 2023 $14 This has been a store favorite for a while so I thought it would be fun to add. Delicate aromas of plum and Morello cherry. Robust and full-bodied in the mouth, slightly tannin-rich with a dry and flavorful finish.
Bricco Al Sole Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2022 $15 Intense ruby red. Nose: Intense aroma of dry fruits and flowers. Palate: Dry and savory with soft tannins.
Barone Cornacchia Montepulciano D'Abruzzo "Casanova" 2021 $19 Intense and complex bouquet with hints of plum, dried flowers, cherries, sage, and tobacco. Full-bodied with savory and mineral layers framed by firm tannins. The wine exhibits excellent balance and freshness, with flavors of ripe black cherry, dried red fruit, and cherries soaked in alcohol.
Bonus
I Fauri Passerina IGT Colline Teatrine 2022 $23 Have you ever tasted a wine made from Passerina? Me Neither. Passerina is both a rare local white grape that is found in the Italian region of Marche, and a DOC for wines of the same name. Passerina produces wines with a distinctive personality. These clean, fresh wines are dry and defined by aromas of flowers and delicate herbs.
Torre de Beati Cerasuolo D'Abruzzo 2023 $25 - Cerasuolo D'Abruzzo is a DOC that was created in 1968. It's made from Montepulciano and tends to be on the darker side of rosato that I find to be more of a red. This deeply hued Cerasuolo dives into rich cherry and bramble berry tones on the nose and palate. It’s full in feel, yet well framed by teeming acidity and soft tannins.
Cornacchia Montepulciano Riserva "Vigne le Coste" 2018 $33 This exceptional Italian red wine is crafted from handpicked Montepulciano grapes, aged for 15 months in French and Slavonian oak barrels. Its intense aroma reveals hints of ripe black cherry, plum, and spice, while its full-bodied palate offers a balanced blend of rich fruit, velvety tannins, and a touch of oak complexity.