Torri Cantine

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 420

FRUITY & JUICY MEDIUM BODIED RED - ORGANIC

Montepulciano is a grape exclusive to Italy which gives a deep coloured, soft, juicy, and approachable wine, even when drunk young. When it is made with attention on quality rather than quantity the Montepulciano grape turns into a delicious, velvety red wine. Montepulciano grows everywhere in Central Italy and to a lesser extent in Southern Italy. Many believe that Montepulciano originated in Abruzzo while others reckon that this grape arrived in Abruzzo from Tuscany with the Medici family. Beyond its origin, Montepulciano is strictly associated with the Abruzzo region; Montepulciano d’Abruzzo was indeed the first Italian DOC appellation that includes the entire region.

Montepulciano is one of Italy’s most planted grape varieties. More precisely, Montepulciano sits behind Sangiovese as being the second most planted variety in Italy. Montepulciano is a workhorse and a very generous grape. It is known for producing reliably high yields. A fact which unfortunately contributes to the view that Montepulciano is a simple grape used for bulking out wines and selling to the mass market.

Montepulciano has a thick skin which gives wines with naturally high levels of both tannins and colour. Being a late-ripening variety Montepulciano needs a long, sunny growing season to ripen slowly and fully. Abundant sunshine and a caressing warmth are therefore key factors. The berries experience asynchronous maturation in the same bunch and it is very important that the pips ripe properly otherwise the wine can be "green” or bitter. Too often in Abruzzo, Montepulciano is grown using the “tendone” pruning system which translates in English as “big tent”. This a high-yielding system which, if not effectively managed, does not let the grapes to ripen properly and fully.

The best Montepulciano come from the hills around the town of Teramo in Northern Abruzzo where the grape finds outstanding growing conditions to ripe. Montepulciano 4 20 from Torri Cantine is one of them. The grapes are picked on stony-loam soil at 300 meters above sea level from a 30-year-old vineyard with optimal exposure and low yields in Controguerra, a village north of Teramo on the border with the Marche region. An ideal microclimate and an optimal diurnal temperature variation, together with organic techniques of cultivation, enhances the typical flavours of Montepulciano grapes.

Altitude: 290 m.a.s.l.

Vine exposure: South/south-est

Soil: Stony-loam

Age of vines: 30 years

Implant density (vines/ha): 1.000

Production for vine (Kg/plant): 8-10

Production for hectare (q/ha): 100-120

Vine cultivation system: Row

Vine pruning: Cordon spur pruning

Type of agricolture: Organic

Manual selection of the grapes harvested towards the end of October in a 30 year old vineyard in Controguerra with optimal exposure and low yield. 

The wine is made exclusively in stainless steel tanks thermo-conditioned and after the malolactic fermentation it ages in bottle for at least 6 months.

Fruit driven with a lovely wild berry and violet nose which is carried through to the palate. The flavours are soft and elegant with pure fruit character and a herbaceous slightly mineral mid palate. Friendly and approachable.

A perfect match with Bolognese pasta or other pasta with a hearty ragù sauce. It goes also well with meat courses, cured meat, seasoned cheese like parmesan, legumes soups.

Vintage: 2021
Grape: Montepulciano
Region: Abruzzo
Alcohol (ABV): 13.5%