2021 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

The Finer Details

What does our Somm say?

A direct quote from the winery reveals why we choose to share this Montepulciano d’Abruzzo with you:

 

“Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is one of the most produced grapes in Italy. There are many labels of Montepulciano on the market, some also made by bottlers outside of the Abruzzo’s region. Those wine bottles that have the sole purpose to be cheap are often made without care and so over time they have compromised the name of this grape that, contrary, has unique quality characteristics. And so, the winemakers who, like us, try to produce quality wines have the tough and responsible task of bringing the name of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo back to the top”.

 

I would agree that this example of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is a reinvigoration of a well-known wine type. This dry red holds such wonderful depth of flavour; ripe cherry, plum, strawberry and black currants roll around the mouth as additional aromas of vanilla cherry fill the olfactory centre.

 

This red drop from Abruzzo is versatile in food pairing but sings when served with appetizers of prosciutto and salami meats, tomato based pasta dishes, well sauced roasts, or cheesy baked vegetable dishes. I personally enjoy it with some bruschetta of tomato and a rich cheese spread.

 

Optimal Serving Temp: 18 – 20 Degrees Celsius

 

The Winery

The history of Vigneti Radica (Radica vineyards) goes back to the 1950’s, when this winemaking family’s late grandfather, Rocco Radica, established his first vineyard in Tollo, a small village in Abruzzo at 150 meters altitude from sea level between the warm of the Adriatic sands and the cold of the Majella mountain.

 

The Radica family is known in his home village by the nickname “the Bulls”. This nickname dates back to the WWI times, when an ancestor of the family became popular thanks to his bull, the only adult bull that worked the local lands in the region. That bull was able to help in many working necessities of the village, like working in the fields, serving as transport, and even for reproduction with cattle herds. It helped till the last years of his life, when it was sold to buy a vineyard, where, as of today, these wines are produced.

 

An illustration of this exact bull now graces the wine labels of the Vigneti Radica wines; an homage to an incredible animal that embodies the never ending hope, passion and hard work of the family winery.

 

The Radica family believe that to produce great wines, three important factors need to be fulfilled: excellent grapes, extraordinary winemakers and the best available technology. The local terroir and climate has given Vigneti Radica the perfect conditions to cultivate vineyards. Their winemakers are always careful and passionate; to assure a continuous control of temperature, storage and hygiene throughout all production phases, high quality machineries and containers bring out the best of their hand-picked harvest.

 

The Vigneti Radica winery is completely integrated within its landscape. They aimed to combine traditional materials (local stones, woods) with modern and eco-friendly technology (insulated walls, solar panels) thinking that if you respect the nature, the nature will reward you with its best fruits. Their imprint is roughly 30 hectares of land in the areas of Tollo, Ortona and Fara Filiorum Petri, where they cultivate mainly local grapes to produce great abruzzese wines such as Montepulciano, Trebbiano, Rosato and Pecorino.

 

For more, follow @vigneti_radica

 

Grapes

• Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 100%

 

Alcohol Content: 13%
Bottle Size: 750ml