Wines of Marche

Everything you need to know about the wines of Marche in Italy

A wine region with an ancient history, the Marche wine region is a land with a peasant soul, far from the big wine industries. The share of this vineyard in the Italian viticulture is about 3 to 5%. Today it has 4 DOCG and 15 DOC.

History of wine production in the Marche

As with many other wine regions in Italy, the history of the Marche vineyards dates back to before our time, since the vine was already present and flourishing in the year 500 BC. Located next to Tuscany, the emblematic wine region of the peninsula, the Marche region has evolved in the shadows over the centuries. The implementation in 1963 of the Italian legislation for the DOC and DOCG system will make this wine region evolve.

Geography of Marche wines

Marche is a region in central Italy located in the east, surrounded by the Apennines on one side and the Adriatic Sea on the other. It is divided into five areas with from north to south: Pesaro, Ancona, Macerata, Fermo and Ascoli Piceno. The soils are mostly made of limestone and clay. The climate is more Mediterranean on the coast, while inland, between hills and mountains, it is more continental.

Viticulture in the Marche

Compared to its neighboring region, Tuscany, where there are large, modern wineries that call on oenologists from all over the world, the Marche is a much more rural region. The viticulture is led by men and women who advocate the values of the land, mostly independent winemakers. Native grape varieties are cultivated, both in white and in red.

The red grape varieties of Marche

Montepulciano is without doubt the king of the region. It gives wines with a beautiful structure, round and balanced. Sangiovese is also grown here, as well as autochthonous varieties such as Vernaccia Nera and more international varieties such as Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The white grape varieties of Marche

Here, white grape varieties are honored because the region is a great producer of white wines. There are very indigenous varieties such as Verdicchio, Passerina and of course Pecorino which give fruity, elegant wines with always a nice structure and acidity.

Other Specialties of Marche

Other more anecdotal grape varieties are also grown in the Marche region, such as Bordo, a variety of Grenache that gives wines of finesse and elegance. Two wineries do well with this variety: San Lazzaro, and Oasi Degli Angeli.

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