Oenological Abruzzo is a great reality: this is demonstrated by the qualitative growth supported by the interest of critics and the market and by the successes reported every year in national and international competitions. The enhancement of the territory and its most important indigenous vines, combined with a new generation of winemakers and winemakers, represent today the strengths. Montepulciano, in particular, has been considered for several years one of the great red grape varieties in Italy and represents more than half of the regional ampelographic base, as well as being the reference grape of the Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC, which in 2018 turned 50.
PRODUCTION
Within the context of regional agriculture, viticulture is undoubtedly the most significant segment, with over 32,000 hectares of vineyard area for an annual production of about 3.5 million hectoliters, of which more than one million with designation of origin. Of these, about 80% is represented by Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.
The production areas are concentrated almost entirely in the hilly area: in particular, in the province of Chieti falls over 75% of the vineyard area, followed by Pescara and Teramo with about 10% each and finally L’Aquila with less than 4%. The most widespread form of farming in Abruzzo is the Abruzzo pergola, which accounts for over 80% of the regional vineyard, while in the new plantings and replanting the row form (spurred cordon, free cordon, gdc) prevails in most cases. Over 83% of production falls in the province of Chieti, near the coastal hills. The provinces of Pescara and Teramo represent approximately 10% and 6% respectively, while approximately 1% comes from the province of L’Aquila.
Three quarters of the overall wine production in Abruzzo comes from 40 cooperative wineries (32 of which operating in the province of Chieti) which, together with the private ones, make up a framework of about 250 processing companies. In 2004 the packaged product exceeded 100 million bottles.
THE CONSORTIUM FOR THE PROTECTION OF ABRUZZO WINES
As a non-profit association organization, the Consorzio Tutela Vini d’Abruzzo was established in 2003 by Decree of the Ministry of Agricultural and Forestry Policies (MiPAF) to carry out functions of protection, enhancement and general care of the interests connected to the denominations that it protects. It oversees the fulfillment of the regulatory discipline of the denominations, the formulation of any proposals to update it, and coordinates the work of the productive categories of the sector for the purpose of enhancing the individual denominations.
The Consortium protects wines with Controlled Designation of Origin:
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Doc
Trebbiano d’Abruzzo Doc
Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo Doc
Abruzzo Doc
Villamagna Doc
It also protects the following Typical Geographical Indication wines:
Colline Pescaresi Igt
Colline Teatine Igt
Colline Frentane Igt
Colli del Sangro Igt
Del Vastese o Histonium Igt
Terre di Chieti Igt
Terre Aquilane o Terre de L’Aquila Igt
