Wines of Abruzzo

All about Primitivo wines from Abruzzo region

A small region of the peninsula, Abruzzo is one of the few regions in Europe where 30% of its surface area is in protected areas, including four parks, three of which are national and one regional. Its viticulture, which is very old, is now resolutely turned towards the future.

History of Primitivo wine production

The first traces of the Abruzzo wine region can be traced back to the birth of the Roman Empire. Until the Renaissance period, the cultivation of grapes was concentrated mainly in the Peligna Valley. It was only in the 1960s that the vineyard really took the turn to modernity.

Geography of Primitivo wines

Abruzzo is a central region of Italy, located between the Adriatic Sea to the east and the Gran Sasso Massif to the north and Majella to the south. The climate is peculiar with great differences in temperature between day and night, more continental climatic influences inland and milder on the coast. The topography allows this region to be well ventilated favoring a microclimate conducive to viticulture.

Viticulture in Primitivo

Spread over about 36,000 hectares with an average annual production of 3.8 million hectoliters, Abruzzo's viticulture is mainly from cooperatives, about 40 of which account for ¾ of the total production. There is one DOCG, eight DOC and eight IGT.

The Primitivo grape variety

As in the Marches, located to the north of Abruzzo, the region's most famous grape variety is Montepulciano, which is planted on 17,000 hectares, almost half of the total area. Its combination with the Abruzzo terroir produces wines with good aromatic intensity and velvety tannins, wines that are pleasant to drink young but can also age well. Other grape varieties such as Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are also present, although in a more anecdotal way.

The white varieties of Primitivo

Like Montepulciano for red wines, the king of white wines is Trebbiano, which produces wines that are not very aromatic but have a good freshness. With 14,000 hectares, it is the second most planted variety in the region. Other very local varieties are Pecorino, Passerina, Cococciola and also a little Chardonnay.

Other Abruzzo Specialties

Based on the Tuscan model, which uses many international grape varieties, some producers have decided to produce more "modern" wines without abandoning the native Montepulciano grape. Discover the "Zeresimo" vintage, a blend of Montepulciano and Merlot, a typical super-Tuscan wine that shows a beautiful expression of Abruzzo. Did you say Zeresimo?

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