FLAVORS

Quality and convenience. These two terms seem difficult to reconcile, but not for Abruzzo wine, to such an extent that the prestigious English magazine Wine Enthusiast recognized Abruzzo as the wine region of the year, defining it as “A region rich in tradition and steeped in innovation“. 

The winemaking vocation of Abruzzo indeed has this characteristic: excellent wines that are truly accessible to all budgets. The reasons behind this lie both in its historical and geographical aspects.

History has bestowed upon Abruzzo first the spread of vineyards, which since the 16th century have covered the entire hilly area, and later brought about the development of modern winemaking, albeit relatively late, starting from the 1960s. This has preserved the familial and cooperative character of the production.

On the other hand, the geography has bestowed the ideal characteristics for vine cultivation upon the region. Completely devoid of plains, the entire coastal strip, stretching over 120 km and around 30 km wide, is a vast expanse of vineyards and olive groves. The significant temperature variation, mixed soil composition, and excellent drainage all contribute to making every well-exposed hill a place where vines grow easily, yielding excellent results and high-quality grapes. The altitude of certain vineyards and the proximity to the sea in others (there are many places where vines grow right on the cliffs) have also allowed Abruzzo to excel in the production of both red and white wines.

The pride and glory of Abruzzo’s winemaking is the Montepulciano grape, which gives rise to two DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) wines: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, a red wine perfect for aging, and Cerasuolo, a rosé wine with a distinctive hint of cherry, from which it takes its name.

Among the white wines, the historical DOC is Trebbiano d’Abruzzo, but in recent years, the cultivation of other grape varieties has gained ground, including Passerina, Cococciola, and, most notably, Pecorino, which has found its maximum expression in Abruzzo.

Vasto is home to several family-run wineries that focus primarily on quality productions exported worldwide. All the finest labels can be tasted at our restaurant and wine bar, Taverna del Vasto.