Manchester readies to discover Abruzzo wine
Next Tuesday, a masterclass in Manchester will showcase Abruzzo’s winemaking heritage, with an emphasis on the diversity of its vineyards and landscape.
Positioned between the warm waters of the Adriatic and the highest peaks of the Apennines, Abruzzo is a picture of quintessential Italy. Of course, that includes vineyards, with 36,000 hectares dedicated to growing grapes.
On Tuesday 14 October, Manchester’s wine trade will get a taste of the region. From 11am to 1pm at the People’s History Museum, Filippo Bartolotta will guide attendees through the region’s most distinctive wines.
Bartolotta is a journalist, educator and author, with a passion for the wines of his homeland. He works in both Italy and the UK, where he has made his name contributing to publications such as the drinks business and Decanter.
In the Manchester masterclass he will offer an introduction to Abruzzo and a tasting of its most emblematic wines. It will feature Pecorino and Trebbiano d’Abruzzo, two white varieties that showcase the region’s crisp, easygoing styles.
The tasting will then progress to Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, the region’s most commercially significant denomination and its most important indigenous variety. Across six wines, Bartolotta will tease out the nuances of style, sub-region and vintage possible with the adaptable grape.
True diversity
One of the key themes of the tasting will be diversity. If not as famous as Tuscany or Piedmont, Abruzzo offers a wealth of heritage that can easily compete with them.
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That begins with the landscape itself. Abruzzo does not have an urban sprawl – its capital, Pescara, is a historic city of walkable size. Instead, it is one of Europe’s greenest regions, with extensive areas under legal protection so that wildlife can thrive. Three national parks, a regional park, a protected marine area and more than 30 nature reserves mean that around a third of the region is protected for nature.
Diversity is also key to Abruzzo’s wine traditions. The region hosts nine different DOC or DOCG denominations, as well as nine for the production of IGT wines.
Montepulciano, the region’s deep coloured flagship grape, is known internationally. Its ripe cherry aromas and naturally rich tannins make it a fine partner for traditional local dishes such as Arrosticini (lamb skewers).
The white wines, however, are commanding greater attention as global tastes shift from red wines. Trebbiano offers a bright, refreshing profile, while Pecorino bears scents of orchard fruit and herbal accents.
Abruzzo even has its answer to the burgeoning rosé trend, though it is very far removed from pale Provence styles. Indeed, Cerasuola d’Abruzzo, the local speciality, is utterly distinctive. Made from Montepulciano, it is a deeply hued rosé wine that combines the body and structure of a red with the freshness of a white. Indeed, the regional consortium is looking to differentiate its cherry shade from other rosés of the region.
Register now for the Abruzzo masterclass.
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