Abruzzo
Situated in the mountainous central Italian region of Abruzzo along the Adriatic Sea. Abruzzo’s rugged terrain, 65% of which is mountainous, help to isolate the region from the winemaking influence of the ancient Romans and Etruscans in Tuscany but the area has had a long history of wine production.
The most notable wine of the region is Montepulciano d’Abruzzo produced with the Montepulciano grape that is distinct from the Sangiovese grape behind the Tuscan wine Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Together with Trebbiano d’Abruzzo, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is one of the most widely exported DOC wine from Italy.
Some of the most highly rated wine from Abruzzo comes from the hillside vineyards in the northern provinces of Pescara and Teramo. In the completely mountainous province of L’Aquila in the west.