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Finding a properly aged Montepulciano d'Abruzzo of this pedigree is a rare thrill. While visiting one of the region’s most historic, traditional estates—a family famous for holding their top wines back for a decade or more before release—I was offered a tiny allocation of this magnificent 2011 from their personal library. The 2011 vintage was warm and generous, yielding a wine of immense concentration that has now softened into absolute elegance after years of perfect cellaring. The nose is incredibly complex, offering layers of baked blackberry, dried plum, cured tobacco, leather, and a signature hint of dark cocoa. On the palate, the once-massive tannins have melted into a velvety, seamless texture, carrying savory notes of balsamic and earth through a remarkably long, persistent finish. It is a profound, soul-stirring expression of mature Abruzzo that is fully ready to drink tonight, offering an unforgettable experience of aged Italian wine without the typical premium.

The Lunaria Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is a great example of what this beloved Italian varietal can offer—powerful yet approachable, full of character, and deeply rooted in its Abruzzo terroir. Lunaria, a winery known for its commitment to organic and biodynamic farming, crafts a Montepulciano d’Abruzzo that’s both rich and expressive. The wine greets you with ripe dark fruit aromas—plum, black cherry, and blackberry—layered with hints of spice, earth, and a touch of cocoa. On the palate, it’s full-bodied and generous, with smooth tannins and just the right amount of acidity to keep everything in balance. This Montepulciano is versatile at the table, pairing beautifully with hearty dishes like grilled meats, rustic pastas, or even pizza. It’s a wine that speaks to the heart of Italian tradition, offering a genuine, unpretentious drinking experience. This wine is perfect for those looking for an accessible, yet expressive, red to enjoy with food or on its own.

A full-bodied, savory red, with firm but fine-grained tannins. I like the roasted-mushroom and dried-herb undertones to the black fruit. Drink or hold.

Tiberio’s Abruzzo estate began in 2000, when Riccardo Tiberio acquired a property containing old Trebbiano Abruzzese vines; today, siblings Cristiana and Antonio Tiberio lead the winery. Their 2025 Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo represents the region’s dedicated rosato denomination, whose wines are based predominantly on Montepulciano.

Pecorino is one of the local white grapes at the center of Donvitantonio's work in Abruzzo. This 2025 bottling comes from a family producer based in Crecchio, in the province of Chieti, with vineyards extending into nearby Poggiofiorito and Orsogna. Antonio and Simone returned to the family vineyards after gaining experience abroad, continuing the work of their grandfather. They began bottling grapes that had previously gone to local cooperatives, establishing Donvitantonio as a producer in its own right. This is a useful entry into an estate whose range also includes Montepulciano and Passerina. For the table, consider seafood antipasti or pasta with clams.

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo takes its name from the Montepulciano grape and Abruzzo, the central Italian region between the Apennines and the Adriatic Sea. Donvitantonio’s 2022 belongs to this regional red-wine tradition—not to be confused with Tuscany’s Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, a Sangiovese-based wine named for its town.

Purple-hued and deeply complex, the 2023 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo has an inviting bouquet of black raspberries, cloves, dried sage and licorice. Juicy acidity lends a jovial character to sour cherries, wild berries and a tactile mineral core. It finishes long and pleasantly staining with a sour berry inflection and edgy tannins. There's a tenacity to the 2023 that keeps me coming back for more, but I'm also excited to see what cellaring will reveal. (EG)

The estate's crown jewel. Hand-destemmed over wooden grates to preserve the absolute integrity of every berry, the 2023 Montepulciano balances raw, untamed power with remarkable finesse. Deep notes of dark cherry, dried Mediterranean herbs, leather, and turned earth leap from the glass, supported by tightly knit, traditional tannins. It is a monolithic wine built for the long haul, demanding patience but promising infinite reward.

The 2023 Bianco Terre Aquilane Lucì is intoxicating, with a wild bouquet of tropical flowers, fermented ginger, crushed nectarines, apricots and spearmint. There's not a hard edge in sight as hints of candied citrus and sweet herbs elevate ripe orchard fruits. The 2023's drinkability is off the charts as it closes with a tart pineapple inflection and honeyed inner florals. This varietal Trebbiano spent 20 months on the lees. (EG)

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo has held DOC status since 1968 and is built around Montepulciano, Abruzzo’s principal red grape—not to be confused with the Tuscan town of the same name. Amorotti’s 2021 bottling places this historic regional variety squarely at the center of its identity.

A savory herbal tinge opens the stage for the 2020 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva as notes of wild strawberry and floral underbrush fill out the bouquet. Lean and mean, yet balanced, this splashes across the palate with depths of tart cherry and blackberry as a saline mineral concentration adds form toward the close. Still tannic despite its late release, the 2020 leaves the senses reeling with youthful poise as nuances of exotic spice linger on. Have patience here, or if drinking today, give this a healthy decant. (EG)

Donvitantonio's 2025 Rosato comes from a family producer based in Crecchio, in the province of Chieti. The family's vineyards extend across Crecchio, Poggiofiorito and Orsogna, within Abruzzo's landscape between the Apennines and the Adriatic. Antonio and Simone returned after gaining experience abroad to continue their grandfather's work. The family's move from supplying grapes to local cooperatives to bottling its own wines is the story behind this range, which includes Pecorino and Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. Serve the rosato chilled with antipasti, grilled fish or a vegetable frittata.

Spicy from the first tilt of the glass, the 2022 Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo is impossible to ignore as a pleasant smoky reduction blows off to reveal dried sage, wild strawberries, stone dust and violet pastille. This is pleasantly ripe in style, with a solid core of salty minerals to balance. Crisp wild berry fruits flow across the palate with ease. Blood orange notes combine with a tactile concentration as the 2022 tapers off with sweet tannins that frame the experience nicely. Without a doubt, the 2022 is one of the top Cerasuolos of the year, displaying remarkable complexity and refinement. (EG)

Let's start off by saying this is one of the most exciting, under-the-radar projects in Abruzzo right now. Tenute Inverso is a tiny, family-run discovery that produces an incredibly small amount of this wine—just around 2000 bottles. We are incredibly proud to have this as an exclusive gem. Often, Montepulciano can fall into the trap of being too heavy, overly extracted, or masked by aggressive oak. Tenute Inverso completely bypasses that. What makes this wine so singular is its aging method: it is fermented and aged entirely in clay anfore. By removing the influence of wood, the producer allows the pure, rugged terroir of the Abruzzo backcountry to speak for itself. In the 2024 vintage, the result is a wine that vibrates with nervous energy. The nose is a lively, high-toned blast of sour cherry and crushed amarena, woven with savory wild herbs, forest floor, and a distinct, smoky minerality. It feels alive and vertical, offering a refined, almost saline texture that only clay aging can impart. It is intensely savory, lacking any heavy, jammy weight, and finishes with a pure, mouthwatering grip. A steal at this price point.

The 2023 Arboreto Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is a fresh, fruit-forward, and immediately appealing expression of the region's most planted red grape. The nose is inviting and generous, bursting with classic aromas of ripe black cherry, juicy plum, and a hint of dark chocolate, accented by subtle savory notes of dried herbs and licorice. On the palate, it is medium-bodied and smoothly textured, offering a plush core of dark fruit framed by soft, gentle tannins and a balancing, moderate acidity. The finish is clean, warm, and highly approachable. This is a versatile, ready-to-drink red, perfect for everyday enjoyment.

The 2024 Praesidium Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo Superiore (DOC) is a monumental, fiercely soulful, and authoritatively structured masterpiece that reminds us why the Peligna Valley produces the most serious, age-worthy expressions of this traditional style. The Pasquale family crafts this deeply tinted icon from 100% Montepulciano grapes grown in their certified organic, high-altitude estate vineyards in Prezza. Perched nearly 400 meters above sea level in a rugged, interior Apennine enclave, the vines grapple with a highly stony matrix of calcareous clay. This isolated, wind-swept macroclimate experiences dramatic mountain diurnal shifts, which lock in a shimmering, vibrant acid spine during the luminous 2024 vintage while maintaining a shockingly dense phenolic extract.

The 2022 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Archivio is a spice box of balsamic black cherries, ground clove, incense, rosemary and smoky crushed stone. It's more vibrant and refined than expected, with silken textures and ripe red berry fruits that saturate toward the close. This presents beautifully integrated tannins, finishing firm and poised but still fresh with a tart raspberry concentration. Tiberio has mastered the oak integration in the Archivio. This is a spectacular showing. (EG)

The winemaking at Terraviva completely shuns heavy-handed intervention to protect the naked, high-toned varietal energy of Pecorino. Spontaneously fermented with native yeasts strictly in stainless steel vats, the juice avoids malolactic fermentation to safeguard its hallmark biting acidity. The wine is then aged on its fine lees for roughly 6 months with periodic stirring, building a svelte, phenolic mid-palate density that beautifully balances Pecorino's naturally intense extract and structure.

The 2024 De Fermo "Don Carlino" Pecorino (Colline Pescaresi IGT) is a monumental, deeply intellectual, and uncompromisingly artisanal expression of the variety. Stefano Papetti Ceroni and Eloisa de Fermo craft this benchmark white from biodynamically farmed vines rooted in the clay-limestone soils of Loreto Aprutino, a historic Teramo-adjacent enclave defined by its dramatic diurnal shifts between the Apennine mountains and the Adriatic Sea. Spontaneously fermented with native yeasts and aged in a combination of concrete tanks and large, neutral wooden casks (botti), it is bottled unfined and unfiltered, avoiding any modern oak makeup or technical manipulation to preserve its raw, visceral energy.

The 2024 Vigna Madre "Kriya" Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is a pure, highly energetic red produced by the Di Carlo family, pioneers of organic and biodynamic viticulture in Abruzzo. Sourced from dry-farmed vineyards sitting between the Adriatic Sea and the Apennine mountains, this cuvée completely avoids irrigation to force the roots deep into the limestone-clay soils, maximizing terroir expression. In the glass, it shows an intense ruby-purple color. The nose is exceptionally vibrant and primary, bursting with crunchy black cherries, wild blackberries, and violets, accented by savory undertones of flint, smoke, and wild brushwood. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied and light-footed, stepping away from the heavy, over-extracted style often found in the region. It pairs a remarkably brisk, nervous acidity with fine-grained, silky tannins and a clean, mineral-driven finish. It is a fantastic, highly versatile everyday red that pairs perfectly with arrosticini, lamb ragù, or a hearty tomato stew.

Valentini’s family estate in Loreto Aprutino has cultivated vines in Abruzzo for generations, becoming closely associated with the region’s traditional wines. The 2022 Trebbiano d’Abruzzo continues that legacy, drawing on Abruzzo’s historic white-wine grape and one of its most celebrated producer names.

Foot-trodden and fermented entirely in glass-lined concrete, the 2024 Trebbiano is a masterclass in tension and texture. Expect a vibrant, aromatic core of crushed almond, chamomile, and crisp orchard fruit, all grounded by a profound, chalky minerality. While thrilling and electric in its youth, it has the structural integrity to evolve beautifully in the cellar over the next decade.

The 2023 Amorotti Trebbiano is a profound and "hands-off" white wine from the noble terroir of Loreto Aprutino—the same village home to the legendary Valentini. Crafted by Gaetano Carboni, this wine is fermented spontaneously and aged for over a year in large 550L untoasted oak casks, avoiding the use of stainless steel entirely. The nose is heady and inviting, offering a complex bouquet of chamomile, ripe peaches, and acacia flowers layered with sophisticated notes of dried fruit, honey, and wild Mediterranean herbs. On the palate, it is structured and full-bodied, balancing a rich, waxy texture with a striking saline minerality and vibrant acidity. The finish is long and savory, marked by a classic nutty nuance and a clean, "grainy" persistence that reflects its traditional upbringing. A deep and highly individual white that stands as one of the most exciting artisanal expressions in Abruzzo today.

The 2022 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Colle Vota is darkly alluring and pleasantly earthy. A beguiling bouquet of crushed ashen stones and smoky grilled herbs gives way to crushed blackberries and ground cloves. This is elegant in feel, like liquid cashmere on the palate, with brisk acidity supporting its notable weight as tart wild berry fruits slowly saturate. This finishes youthfully firm and structured, with nuances of licorice and edgy tannins that add a crunchy sensation. This vintage of Colle Vota will require patience. (EG)

Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is named for the Montepulciano grape—not the Tuscan town associated with Sangiovese-based Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Marchesi Dè Cordano’s 2003 “Trinità” belongs to this appellation from Abruzzo, on Italy’s Adriatic coast. Established as a DOC in 1968, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo places the region’s signature red grape at its center.

Lots of sweet currant and distinct mineral character. Full-bodied, fresh and balanced, with silky tannins and a fresh, fruity finish.

From Abruzzo on Italy's Adriatic side, this is a Montepulciano d'Abruzzo from Marchesi De Cordano, bottled under the Trinità cuvée. The 2001 vintage places it firmly in mature-cellar territory, so condition should be considered bottle by bottle.

Made from Montepulciano in Abruzzo, this bottling falls squarely in the region's traditional red-wine lane rather than the international-varietal camp. With a 2000 vintage wine, bottle condition and storage history will be especially important.

Abruzzo’s most iconic white wine, Valentini's Trebbiano d’Abruzzo undergoes spontaneous fermentation in big botti and hits the market three and a half years after harvest. The 2018 vintage only hints at its long-term potential, unveiling subdued aromas of ripe melon, cinnamon and quince, with a touch of underlying earthiness. Ample and creamy on the palate, it offers layers of juicy stone fruits and acacia honey backed by refreshing acidity and piercing minerality. Hints of undergrowth and toast complicate the long and pure finish. (AF)

A very umami, savory nose of pepper, earth, hot tar, crushed rocks and old leather is balanced out by a palate that presents tart berries and lots of citrus, beneath a sprinkle of salt and pepper. The finish unveils a spiced, bitter cocoa element, wrapping up a wine which is layered, dense and substantial, but also agile, directed and linear. (DC)

Fascinating aromas of blanched almonds, salt, dried apples, dried pears and some candied fruit. Medium- to full-bodied with plenty of fruit, but it remains tight and layered. Focused finish of dried lemons and lime tree. Drink now. (JS)

PLEASE NOTE: This product is offered as a complete case in original packaging. If the wines are going to be shipped upon arrival, the bottles will be sent in pulp shippers to protect the bottles during shipping, with the empty case itself shipped separately on request. Will Call or Local Delivery orders can be handled as intact cases. Please detail any special handling requests at checkout online, or call us with specific instructions.

PLEASE NOTE: This product is offered as a complete case in original packaging. If the wines are going to be shipped upon arrival, the bottles will be sent in pulp shippers to protect the bottles during shipping, with the empty case itself shipped separately on request. Will Call or Local Delivery orders can be handled as intact cases. Please detail any special handling requests at checkout online, or call us with specific instructions.

The 2022 Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo is entirely unexpected, tempting the imagination with a cascade of wild strawberries, dried citrus and roses, incense and crushed stone. It opens with a pleasant inner sweetness balanced by zesty acidity as crisp apple and autumnal spice collide with salty minerals and an almondy richness. The 2022 tapers off impossibly fresh yet still staining and long, leaving a flourish of raspberry and licorice that lingers on and on. This is next level Cerasuolo from a master. Wow. While there is not a new vintage of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo from the traditional house of Valentini this year, collectors will be happy to hear that there is a knock-out 2022 Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo. Francesco Valentini and his son Gabriele continue to set the bar very high, and as a result, they have chosen not to bottle their Montepulciano in 2020 or 2021, deciding instead to sell the wines in bulk. But have no fear about the Trebbiano, which has been able to cope much better with the effects of global warming. This year's release is from the 2019 vintage, a lower production yet cooler vintage (in relation to the last three years). The 2019 is classic Valentini in every possible way. It’s enjoyable today and guaranteed to send your eyes rolling back in your head but with the balance for a long evolution. As has been the case for years now, locating the wines in the market is still challenging. Don't pass up an opportunity to add these wines to your cellar. (EG)

Tense and textured, authentic and energetic, typically distinctive with inviting aromas of cherry, pomegranate and floral nuances. It undergoes brief maceration and spontaneous fermentation in concrete tanks, with no filtration. Guardians of an ancient winemaking tradition, the Pepe family has been crafting this wine since the 1960s. A drinking experience. (AP)

PLEASE NOTE: This product is offered as a complete case in original packaging. If the wines are going to be shipped upon arrival, the bottles will be sent in pulp shippers to protect the bottles during shipping, with the empty case itself shipped separately on request. Will Call or Local Delivery orders can be handled as intact cases. Please detail any special handling requests at checkout online, or call us with specific instructions.