Discover Abruzzo (Italy), one of the world's most famous wine-growing regions.

Accepting an invitation from the Abruzzo Wines Consortium (Italy), in collaboration with the International Federation of Wine and Food Writers and Journalists (Fijev), I departed for Italy on the afternoon of June 5, 2022, along with approximately 100 writers, journalists, and organizers of wine and food tours from around the world.

The Qatar Airways flight from Noi Bai Airport (Hanoi) to Rome Fiumicino Airport, with a layover in Doha, took approximately 16 hours. We arrived in Rome at 9:20 AM on June 6th. After collecting our luggage, we were met by a bus from the Abruzzo Wines Consortium. Our Asian journalist group consisted of three Taiwanese journalists and five Japanese journalists; I was the only Vietnamese. There were also about 12 Japanese people on the bus who had paid for the trip themselves to learn about wine. The journey from Rome Fiumicino to the Supporter-Fossacesia Marina Hotel, where the group stayed, was 250 km long and took 3 hours.

The wine-growing region is blessed by Mother Nature.

The Abruzzo region is located in the heart of the Italian peninsula, east of the two major cities of Lazio and Rome, bordered to the west by the Apennine Mountains, and to the east by 150 km of the Adriatic Sea coastline. It is one of the wildest and most mountainous regions in Italy, accounting for over 65% of the country's mountainous area. Gran Sasso, at 2914 meters, is the highest peak in the Apennines, and Majella, at 2793 meters, is the dominant mountain in the Abruzzo landscape.

This region has a relatively large number of rivers, and although many of them are only seasonally flowing, some have water year-round, even during the hot summer months. Three major rivers flow into the Adriatic Sea: the Pescara (152 km) in the central region, the Sangro (122 km) in the south, and the Tronto (115 km) in the north. Abruzzo has 500 km² of national biosphere reserve, home to many rare Mediterranean flora and fauna. Abruzzo comprises four provinces: Pescara, Teramo, Chieti, and Aquila.

The average annual rainfall in the Abruzzo region is around 700 mm, and the average annual temperature is 15 degrees Celsius. The monk Serafino Razzi spoke of Abruzzo in the following eloquent words: “It is a fertile land with abundant wheat, fine wines, olive oil, and many delicious fruits… A magnificent landscape with mountains, valleys, and the sea.”

The Abruzzo region has approximately 33,000 hectares of vineyards, with an average annual production of 3.2 million hectare (1 hectare = 100 liters). The Chieti province has the largest vineyard area, accounting for 83%, followed by Pescara province at 10%, Teramo province at 6%, while Aquila province accounts for less than 1%.

This region has 6,000 small-scale grape growers, 35 large cooperatives, and 250 large vineyards. Montepulciano d'Abruzzo red grapes occupy 17,000 hectares, followed by Trebbiano d'Abruzzo white grapes at over 10,000 hectares. Other white grape varieties in the region include Pecorino, Passerina, Cococciola, and Montonico. The five highest-ranked wines in the Italian wine classification system (DOP-DOC) are: DOC Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, DOC Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, DOC Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo (rosé), DOC Villamagna, and DOC Abruzzo.

Grape varieties that have made the Abruzzo region famous.

The Abruzzo region boasts three world-renowned grape varieties used to produce exceptional wines. First is the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo red grape, the second largest grape variety in Italy after Sangiovese. This variety thrives in temperate climates. Wines made from Montepulciano d'Abruzzo have a deep red color, moderate acidity, and softer tannins compared to many other Italian grape varieties. Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wines should not be confused with Vino Nobile di Montepulciano from Tuscany, a wine made from the Sangiovese grape.

Secondly, there is the white grape variety Trebbiano d'Abruzzo. Although this grape doesn't have a great reputation among many wine lovers worldwide, it can produce white wines with delicate aromas and high freshness if grown at high altitudes and in cool climates. In France, it's also known as Ugni Blanc, and is widely grown in the Cognac and Armagnac producing regions. In Italy, Trebbiano is used in winemaking in Veneneto under the name Trebbiano di Soave (or Trebbiano di Lugana), in Tuscany under the name Trebbiano di Tuscany, and in Emilia-Rogmana and Umbria under the names Trebbiano Modenese, Trebbiano Romagnolo, and Trebbiano Spoletino.

Finally, there's the Pecorino grape. This is currently a very popular white grape variety in Italy. As an early-ripening grape, with high sugar and acidity levels, wines made from Pecorino grapes are well-rounded on the palate, intensely fruity, and have a higher alcohol content than wines made from Trebbiano d'Abruzzo grapes.

The primary cultivation method in the Abruzzo region is trellising (Pergola), accounting for 80% of the vineyard area, followed by the filament method. The largest export markets for Abruzzo wines are Germany (23%), the United States (20%), and Canada (10%). In general, Abruzzo's white, rosé, sparkling, and red wines pair very well with the diverse cuisine of Abruzzo in particular and Italy in general. For Vietnamese dishes, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo red wine, Trebbiano d'Abruzzo white wine, and Pecorino also prove to be reliable companions.

*This article is by contributor Tô Việt, a wine expert and member of the World Federation of Writers and Journalists, writing about wine and cuisine.

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