Italy’s National Wine Committee and Agricultural Ministry is placing all the wines of Abruzzo under a single IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica), Terre d’Abruzzo.
The new status creates an opportunity for the region as a whole to promote the wines of Abruzzo. Valentino di Campli, President of the Protection Consortium of the Wines of Abruzzo, stated that the move would help increase “recognition of a superior quality and…common identity.” Adding that the move is to create “a strong regional image.” Already known outside of Italy for its production of Montepulciano and Pecorino, this decision marks a stronger focus on Abruzzo as a region, rather than on winemaking provinces. Similarly, in 2011, Sicily came under Terre Siciliane.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo was established as a DOC in the 1960s, and the Colline Teramane DOCG was recognized almost twenty years ago. However, this decision permits the use of “Superiore” on the label of the latter as a means of distinguishing between this winemaking province. The wines of the four approved provinces will be subject to more rigorous production standards, as well as the provincial constraints.
Prior to the decision, Abruzzo contained eight separate IGTs, now under the regional umbrella. Colline Teramane was permitted to use “Riserva” for wines which meet the criteria of a minimum of two years aging and a certain alcohol level. Under these new rules, Terre di Chieti, Terre de l’Aquila, and Colline Pescaresi will also be permitted to use the term.
The change to the regional breakdown was first suggested in 2019, and was strongly supported by the Protection Consortium. The decision will result in long term change to the region’s winemaking and will hopefully come to diversify Abruzzese winemaking while creating regional unity. Regional Vice-President Emanuele Imprudente celebrated the decision, stating that it would “enhance Abruzzo’s wine by enhancing the different territories and the extraordinary biodiversity” within the region.
