Wines from Abruzzo

Powerful with an impeccably clear aroma. On the palate, the acidity supports ripe banana and citrus fruit that blends seamlessly with the wood. SUPERIORE.DE

Top Italian rosé made from selected Montepulciano grapes. Rich, full-bodied and typical of the variety with an intense aroma and fruity, dry flavour, a slender acid wire and a clear, energetic and full-bodied final. SUPERIORE.DE

"Medium bright orange with reddish reflections. Aromas of garden herbs, wild raspberries and a hint of citrus on the nose. Beautiful fruity sweetness of morello cherries and redcurrants on the palate. Noticeably well-integrated phenolic notes and a pleasant flow." Falstaff

"Aromas of strawberries, raspberries and dried orange peel, with light notes of cocoa and almonds. Medium-bodied, very polished and fine, with a seamless and even texture. Very attractive and full of character. Well made." James Suckling

"Deep purple in the glass, the 2023 Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo Spelt is a superfine rosé with an engaging, beguiling nose. Purple flowers and blood-orange citrus tones meet a core of savoury minerality and layers of salinity and earthiness. The 45-year-old vines give this wine remarkable complexity. Wonderfully balanced, with ample acidity and a gentle train of phenolics, this is a serious Cerasuolo." Vinous

High-quality Trebbiano Superiore with structure and a beautiful correspondence between aroma and flavour. Convincing with fresh, spicy to sweet flavours and a crisp, fresh finish, this organically produced white wine is a joy to drink! SUPERIORE.DE

"Lush, bright gold colour. A nose of squeezed lemon and lemon pieces as well as fresh pineapple, reminiscent of fresh resin, plus sea salt and rosemary. Juicy on the palate, with pronounced fruit and well-integrated acidity, savoury, spans a beautiful arc, also slightly floral in the middle section, dry, slightly phenolic finish." Falstaff

"A dusting of autumnal spice, raw almonds and musky dried apricots create an inviting bouquet as the 2021 Trebbiano d'Abruzzo Riserva Spelt opens in the glass. There's a pretty inner sweetness up front complicated by saline minerals and tart orchard fruits. This finishes crisp and with admirable length, leaving tropical inner florals." Vinous

"An impressive Trebbiano, also from organic cultivation. Yellow plum on the nose, with a hint of wild sage and hawthorn, crisp and salty on the finish, with balsamic and fruity notes, a clear snapshot of the area's great potential." Luca Gardini

Deep dark Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva with a beguiling aroma of dark red cherries and berries, earthy notes, grilled hazelnuts, spices and liquorice. "A mouthful of wine" in an incredibly appealing style. Spelt has remarkable concentration and outstanding length. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright ruby red colour. Nose of graphite, ripe cherries, wild berries, a hint of dried rose petal and rubber. Clear on the palate, with clear fruit and beautiful juiciness, shows compact tannins, drinks even better slightly chilled." Falstaff

"The 2020 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Spelt is dark and earthy in the glass, with undergrowth and crushed stones giving way to black cherries and spice. This is round and silky in feel, with ripe wild berry fruits and spices that cascade throughout. Plum and medicinal blackberry linger as the 2020 tapers off long, lightly structured, yet relatively fresh. Well done." Vinous

"Very cedary on the nose at first, so give it a swirl to allow the rich red fruit and floral notes to give you a proper introduction to this full-bodied and solid red. The cedary element is present throughout, but there’s plenty of fruit to counter it. Firm tannins kick in midway and give some astringency to finish, which will smoothen with some more time in bottle." James Suckling

Castello di Semivicoli is a great Rosso from the Chieti area and Masciarelli's first red wine cuvée. The vines in the vineyards of the province of L'Aquila were planted by Gianni Masciarelli in 2003. Medium-bodied purple red. On the nose black berries and nice peppery notes with some tobacco, violets and vanilla. Powerful and silky on the palate, polished tannin and a wonderfully fruity finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"There's a lightly decadent, floral edge to the mixed berries on the nose that translates into bright berries, fresh herbs and minerals on the medium-bodied palate with lightly firm tannins and clean acidity that together spur it on." James Suckling

Pecorino Castello di Semivicoli presents itself in a radiant straw yellow. Aromas of fresh citrus fruits, apricot and melon are complemented by floral nuances and beautiful herbal-spicy tones. Clear and fruity on the palate, with good richness and lovely length. A prime example of the grape variety that has been almost forgotten for a long time. SUPERIORE.DE

Villa Gemma Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo Superiore has a light ruby red colour and exudes a pretty bouquet of wild strawberries, roses and sweet smoke. The flavour is soft and round, with a stimulating acidity and a sweet-tart tension. The finish is long and structured and ends with a delicious final with hints of spiced citrus fruits. SUPERIORE.DE

"Intense, radiant cherry red colour. Inviting nose of juicy cherry, cassis and juniper berries. Very present on the palate, linear and direct in the drinking flow, invigoratingly fresh through to the lingering finish." Falstaff

"The 2023 Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo Superiore Villa Gemma is a fine, delicately fruity, delicate wine. Raspberry, mint, sweet lavender, crushed rock and round, ripe red berry fruit run throughout the core. Refined and polished, this is a gorgeous Cerasuolo that reflects the beauty of the style. The 2023 has what it takes to improve with bottle age, as evidenced by an extremely fine structure and fine tannins that are still hidden behind the pure fruit concentration at the moment. Marvellous." Vinous

"A focused, tactile and delicious Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo with notes of redcurrants, forest berries and fresh raspberries. Medium-bodied with a well-driven, lively center-palate and a flavorful finish with excellent length." James Suckling

The Capsico Rosso, a single-varietal Cabernet Franc with its immensely concentrated and complex character, offers fullness and meatiness. The hints of red forest berries are harmoniously distributed between nose and palate, integrated tannins and good length round off the picture. SUPERIORE.DE

Medoro's famous top-quality Montepulciano Adrano, which elegantly and typically spreads a fine fruity aroma. The taste is led by a rich fruit that is excellently embedded in a full, deliciously spicy structure. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2015 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Adrano lifts up with an alluring display of crushed black cherries, sweet spices, violet florals and a hint of vanilla bean. This is silky and elegant in texture, contrasted by brisk acids and balsamic-tinged black fruits. Fine tannins linger, framing the expression nicely as the Adrano finishes savory with tart wild berries and minerals." Vinous

"The Villa Medoro 2015 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Colline Teramane Adrano shows a classic aromatic profile with dark fruit tones followed by leather and mild tobacco. This wine ages in oak for 12 months, and the impact of that wood emerges mostly in terms of the rich and slightly dense texture of the mouthfeel. Those contrasts between dark fruit and oak spice are nicely played, and they are perfectly suited to a rib-eye steak." Wine Advocate

This Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is one of the best we have ever tasted. Concentrated ruby red in colour, its nose and taste are characterised by a wonderful balance between fruit components and oak spice. A compact, elegant and very balanced red with a rich finish. Perfect! SUPERIORE.DE

"The Terre di Casauria Riserva San Clemente 2018 opens with a mentholated blend of plum sauce, sage and dusty earth. On the palate, it is elegant and polished, with juicy red and blue fruits that fade into savoury herbs and exotic spices. The 2018 tapers off long and structured. A hint of violets and lavender calls the taster back to the glass." Vinous

Dark ruby, finely spicy bouquet, juicy cherry notes and delicate caramel. Elegant texture, with firm tannins and well structured. A round wine and ideal food companion. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright ruby red. A nose of ripe cherries and ripe plums, plus a hint of blackberries and milk chocolate, reverberating on dried rose petal. Fleshy and juicy on the palate, showing creamy fruit core with great tension, reverberating with savoury tannin and fine pressure." Falstaff

"Sweet herbs mix with peppery florals and freshly crushed blackberries as the 2017 Merlot blossoms in the glass. This envelopes the palate with mineral-tinged red and blue fruits as zesty acidity keeps the expression amazingly fresh, yet decidedly savory. A staining of primary concentration lingers through the lightly structured finale, along with a salty flourish that keeps the mouth watering for more. Very nice." Vinous

Deep, dark ruby red colour. Full, deep and explosive bouquet reminiscent of dark berries, tobacco and liquorice. Illuminati's single-vineyard classic Zanna, with its elegant, very complex flavour and delicate oak spice, leaves nothing to be desired every year. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2018 Colline Teramane Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Zanna is quite backward today, dark and brooding. Exotic spice and black currants form its understated bouquet. This is a more lifted and fresh style for Zanna, with round, supple textures and ripe citrus-tinged black fruits. Edgy tannins linger through the mentholated finale as hints of spiced cherry fade slowly." Vinous

The name Iskra comes from the Slavic language and means "spark". The name emphasises the uniqueness of a pair of wines that are able to seduce from the very first glass. Both Iskra wines have one characteristic in common: they have a great personality and their grapes each come from a single vineyard. With grapes typical of central Italy - Malvasia and Montepulciano from two of Abruzzo's favourite terroirs, Colline Teramane and Colline Pescaresi - both wines stand for their clear identity and origin.

Iskra Bianco is a wine that reminds Marina Cvetic of her childhood in Croatia. It is the result of the Malvasia Istriana grape variety, which is not native to Abruzzo but is well acclimatised and whose first rows of vines were planted in Loreto Aprutino's vineyard in 2010. This intense white wine, fresh and balanced, delights the palate with an exquisite balance between floral and hydrocarbon notes. An ideal accompaniment to Asian or transalpine raw food such as raw fish, sushi and Normandy oysters. SUPERIORE.DE

Marina Cvetic's Trebbiano Riserva - a dream and cult wine for lovers of full-bodied and complex white wines. Aromas of golden delicious, nougat, almond, honey, coconut and vanilla spread across the nose and palate. The balsamic-like texture gently conquers the palate and ends, flanked by fresh, lemony notes, in a long finish on crème caramel. SUPERIORE.DE

"The nose is acidic and textured, yet not without sweetness, with aromas of yellow apple, pineapple, lemon and vanilla. These notes all continue on the rich palate." Wine Enthusiast

"It has flavours of pineapple, smoked almonds, lemon cake and pralines. A hint of white chocolate. Creamy, medium to full-bodied and complex, with plenty of texture and depth and a long, nutty finish." James Suckling

Trebbiano Castello di Semivicoli, matured without the use of barrels, exudes an aromatic fragrance of ripe peach, mint and flowers, with mineral notes. Firm, rich, graceful and elegant on the palate. SUPERIORE.DE

"Lemons, chopped herbs and beeswax on the nose. Crushed stones, too. So fresh, with a medium body and lots of texture leading to a long, waxy and tangy finish." James Suckling

Dense, deep red, in the nose forest fruits, ripe red berries and sweet-spicy notes. On the palate elegant, soft, almost creamy, rich, with fine tannin, pronounced body and an optimal balance between alcoholic potency, freshness and fruit and with a furious finish. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2016 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Bellovedere is dark yet elegant, with an inviting bouquet of blackberries, crushed violets, exotic spice and hints of camphor. This is silky in texture with a savory, almost-salty display of wild berries and minerals, all balanced by brisk acids. You can hardly feel its fine-grained tannins settling in until the very end, as the palate aches under the Bellovedere’s youthful structure, with echoes of licorice and black fruits lingering long. That said, the balance here is on point, and all the 2016 needs is a few more years of cellaring to really shine." Vinous

"Aromas of dark fruit, mushrooms, flowers and spices. It’s full-bodied with chewy tannins. Chalky texture in the mouth. Juicy and spicy. Flavorful finish with some length." James Suckling

"This rich red offers a cohesive mix of cigar box spice, menthol, hoisin sauce and brandy-soaked blackberries. It's densely packed in fruit and spice flavors on the full-bodied palate, yet balanced well by a polished sheen of tannins and plenty of fresh acidity. Showing ample power and concentration, this would hold well in the cellar." Wine Enthusiast

"Lovely nose, fragrant with a great purity, showing notes of dark cherries, cinnamon and hints of tobacco with leathery undertones. Very elegant and complex palate." Decanter

Powerful, concentrated Montepulciano with an elegant woody note and multi-layered fruit flavours, true to the terroir and modern. Impressive richness that offers further palate pleasures with every sip. Equally impressive is the long and complex finish. One of the most emphatic Montepulciano wines in the region every year, it requires a little patience, but this is handsomely rewarded. SUPERIORE.DE

"Shiny, dark purple red with a fine rim. Complex, spicy bouquet of juniper berries and black cherry, saddle leather, mocha and some iodine in the finish. Silky and persistent on the tongue, firm tannins, concentrated fruit and dark chocolate." Falstaff

"The 2020 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva San Martino Rosso is a dark, floral wine with a forest-inspired bouquet that blends floral undergrowth with crushed ash stones and dried black cherries. It is round and supple with ripe red and blue fruits accompanied by a hint of pepper. Purple flowers swirl around inside. The wine finishes pleasantly, long and colourful. Strong tannins give it a youthful tension without slowing down the momentum." Vinous

"Complex notes of cocoa, rose petals, mulberries and dried mint on the nose, followed by a layered, full-bodied and meaty palate. The tannins are resolving nicely." James Suckling

The name Iskra comes from the Slavic language and means "spark". The name emphasises the uniqueness of a pair of wines that are able to seduce from the very first glass. Both Iskra wines have one characteristic in common: they have a great personality and their grapes each come from a single vineyard. With grapes typical of central Italy - Malvasia and Montepulciano from two of Abruzzo's favourite terroirs, Colline Teramane and Colline Pescaresi - both wines stand for their clear identity and origin.

The grapes for Iskra Rosso come from a vineyard in Controguerra in the province of Teramo. With its velvety softness and intense aromas of ripe red fruit, it represents one of the most famous terroirs in Abruzzo. It first matures in French oak barriques and then for a long time in the bottle. Complex and full-bodied with lively notes of blackberries, plums, blueberries and berries. Goes perfectly with roasts, stews or rich and flavoursome dishes. SUPERIORE.DE

"On the nose, there is a balance between earthy herbs and fruity undertones of strawberries, candied cherries and dried cranberries. On the palate, dense, taut tannins and impressive acidity provide the framework for a strong, salty bitter chocolate note, but also dried red berries, which provide some lightness on the finish." Wine Enthusiast

"This plush red has a round creaminess, although sculpted tannins and balsamico acidity provide fine definition. Offers a ripe profile of plum pudding, blackberry coulis and vanilla elements, with savory notes of iron, Mediterranean macchia and fresh earth." Wine Spectator

"The grapes for the Iskra come from a vineyard in the Colline Teramane. It is aged for 18 months in new barriques, which gives it spicy, tobacco and balsamic undertones on the nose. On the palate, it is structured, with enough softness to smooth out the assertive tannins and good ageing potential." Decanter

"Dark and brooding, the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Iskra 2019 develops slowly. Hints of cloves and mocha complicate the flavours of dried black cherries and sage. It is elegant and refined, with polished red and blue fruits supported by a mineral core, while sweet wood spices emerge towards the finish. The 2019 is structured with fine-grained tannins that saturate as cocoa and balsamic spices slowly fade away. This tight Iskra is made for the cellar." Vinous

The intoxicating Lumen from Montepulciano and Cabernet Sauvignon combines a deep colour with a full bouquet and reminds of blackberries, raspberries and plums. A dense structure supports the soft, flattering taste with ripe fruit and well-integrated wood components. Solidly built, with sympathetic tannins and a long finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Irresistible and complex Chardonnay, scented with tropical fruits and sweet spices. Opulent taste, in which a pleasant acidity builds up. Harmonious, luxurious Chardonnay from the barrique and one of the classics of Southern Italy. SUPERIORE.DE

Seductive bouquet of exotic sweet spices, pickled cherries and minty herbs. Juicy and deep on the palate, with an abundance of ripe red fruits stimulated by a lively acidity, while rosy tones build inside over a layer of fine but sweet tannins. In the long and lightly structured final, bitter notes mix with sour citrus fruits, which in combination with the fine extract sweetness creates all kinds of tension. Very energetic and complex. SUPERIORE.DE

"Dark violet with minimal lightening rim. Medium expression on the nose, on roasted malt, walnuts, plus chocolate powder, reverberating on Amarena cherry and pickled plums. Nice creaminess and compact tannin on the palate, spans a wide arc, savoury in attack and progression, rich finish with minimal aftertaste." Falstaff

"The 2017 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva is a dark beauty with balsam herbs giving way to spiced cookie, hints of cinnamon and citrus-kissed black cherries. It’s incredibly elegant in character with silken waves of ripe red and black fruits complemented by sweet spice. This saturates the palate with sweet tannins that create a structured feel, yet fail to slow the 2017’s momentum throughout the long and dramatic finale. There’s so much balance and intensity here, making the 2017 a sure bet for the cellar." Vinous

True to the style of the house, the Riserva Pieluni has an excellent structure. Spicy, interwoven fruit aromas, underpinned by a fine hint of vanilla, intensify in the strikingly deep and long taste. The dense, pleasant tannin underlines the elegance of the top product of Illuminati from the Colline Teramane, probably Abruzzo's best denomination for Montepulciano. SUPERIORE.DE

Deep dark ruby red. Full, deep and explosive bouquet reminiscent of dark berries, tobacco and liquorice. Illuminati's single-vineyard classic Zanna, with its elegant, very complex taste and delicate oak spice, leaves nothing to be desired every year. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2017 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Zanna, with its dark purple hue, slowly comes to life in the glass. A blend of blackberries and currants is complemented by nuances of mint, chalk dust and exotic spices. The palate is washed by mineral red berries and mentholated herbal notes that unfold towards the end. A layer of fine-grained tannins saturates the palate and gives it a youthful structure, supported by a touch of residual acidity that maintains balance. Give it another year of ageing for best effect." Vinous

"Rich red and black berries with notes of shellfish, dried herbs and a hint of balsamic. Medium to full body with a relaxed palate where the firm, fine and polished tannins bring out a drier aspect of the fruit. This wine needs another year to come together better. Try it from 2023." James Suckling

"This balanced, polished red wine displays rich aromas of red cherries dipped in alcohol with accents of menthol and tobacco. The palate is soft and supple, with a perky cherry flavour wrapped in dewy herbs and cigar box accents. Gentle tannins and bright acidity give this red wine a coherent texture." Wine Enthusiast

"With a dark appearance and the bold concentration of a hot vintage, the Illuminati 2017 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Colline Teramane Riserva Zanna plays up its dense flavors of black fruit, spice and sweet earth. The bouquet is very generous, and this large-scale approach gives this wine plenty of latitude for grilled meat dishes." Wine Advocate