Montepulciano

This is widely grown throughout central and Southern Italy. In fact, it is the second most commonly planted grape in the country but is most associated with the mountainous region of Abruzzo where it is made into Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. It should not be confused with the town of Montepulciano, which is located in Southern Tuscany.

Montepulciano is rarely found in northern Italy because the grape has a tendency to ripen late and can be excessively “green” if harvested too early. When fully ripened, Montepulciano can produce deeply coloured wines, with moderate acidity and noticeable extract and alcohol levels. It is capable of producing very serious wines when yields are low and when grown in more mountainous terrain.