Montepulciano Information
Pronunciation: montay-puhl-chah-noh
Montepulciano thrives in mountainous terrain in the Abruzzo region of Italy. The large, dark skinned berries love to absorb the plentiful sunlight in the warm climate. The resulting wine is fruity, balanced and easy to drink.
Montepulciano can be easily confused with Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Although they both pay homage to the Tuscan village of Montepulciano, these wines are quite different from one another. Montepulciano is its own varietal of red grape, while Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is a red wine blend of primarily Sangiovese.
Italy produces, consumes and exports very large quantities of red wine; Montepulciano is Italy’s second most popular wine, and second largest export, after Sangiovese. The bulk of harvest comes from the foothills of the mountains in Central Italy. It is no wonder that the country produces so much of this varietal; yields of Montepulciano are consistently high, and the wine is approachable and easy to drink.
The finer quality fruit is grown at higher altitude, in rugged terrain that is rich in clay and limestone. The fruit flavors in these wines are concentrated and intense, and are often higher in tannin. Riserva Montepulciano is barrel aged in oak for at least six months, and set to age in bottle for two more years. Oak aging brings out flavors of chocolate and spice.
Montepulciano is classically deep red in color, medium in body with balanced tannin and acidity. This varietal is also known as Uva Abruzzo, Violone. Cordisco and Morellone
Montepulciano Tasting Notes
Primary Notes: Blackberry, red plum, boysenberry
Secondary Notes, thyme, baking spice, mesquite smoke
Tertiary Notes: chocolate, clover, tobacco
Body – medium to full bodied
Finish – medium acidity, medium tannin
Typical ABV – 11.5-13.5%
Montepulciano Styles
Abruzzo is known for rustic, earthy styles of wine. The wines are highly aromatic, mild in acidity and tannin and rich in color, often appearing more purple.
The Cerasuolo region produces a rosato (rosé) style of Montepulciano. The thick, pigmented skins give this wine a bright color. Tasting notes include orange peel and cinnamon.
Montepulciano Classifications
Offida Rosso DOCG, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Colline Teramane DOCG, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC, Controguerra Rosso DOC, Rosso Conero DOC, Rosso Piceno DOC, Biferno DOC, San Severo Rosso DOC
When To Drink Montepulciano
Montepulciano is a very food friendly wine. This wine is appropriate for a variety of occasions, ranging from casual fare to finer dining. The balance of acidity and tannin provides exceptional structure that holds up very well to rich, flavorful dishes. Montepulciano is a great choice to pair with pizza, tomato based pasta dishes, grilled meats and even burgers.
Montepulciano Serving Temperature – Fahrenheit and Celsius 60-65 ºF (15-18 ºC)
Best Years To Drink Montepulciano
Because of its reputation as a casual, everyday red wine, most Montepulciano is intended to be consumed young. This is usually accompanied by a low price tag. Although the bulk of production is meant for casual drinking, there are higher quality options for those looking for an age-worthy and complex wine. Labels such as Riserva indicate that the wine has been barrel aged.
Montepulciano Average Prices
Average price of $11-30 per bottle.
Montepulciano Nutrition Facts
A 6oz serving of Montepulciano contains between 135-165 calories. This wine is medium in alcohol content, and usually very dry.
Fun Facts About Montepulciano
Believed to have been first discovered in 1793, Montepulciano is an important part of the viticultural history of Central Italy. Today, there are over 20,000 acres planted in Italy.
A distant cousin of Sangiovese, Montepulciano is a member of a very prominent Italian grape family. These two red grapes make up a very large percentage of the production in Italy.
Despite sharing the name, Montepulciano the grape is not grown in Montepulciano the village. The main growing region of the varietal, Abruzzo is located near the Adriatic Coast of Italy.
