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Montepulciano is a medium-bodied red wine from Italy, made from the grape variety of the same name. In its homeland, this is the second most common red variety after Sangiovese, it is loved for its affordable price, unpretentiousness and a good gastronomic combination with traditional Italian dishes.
Attention! Montepulciano wine should not be confused with Nobile de Montepulciano. The latter is a Tuscan wine based on completely different grape varieties, mainly Sangiovese. And “Montepulciano” in this case does not refer to berries, but to the name of the area in which this drink is produced.
Possible origin of the variety
The Montepulciano variety is especially common in the south and in the central part of Italy, but is almost never found in the north of the country. Wine experts believe that Tuscany may be its homeland, and the variety itself may be distantly related to Sangiovese, with which it is often confused.
An interesting fact: the name of the variety has nothing to do with the city of the same name, and this grape is not cultivated in the vicinity of Montepulciano.
Features
On the palate Montepulciano wine felt notes of red plum, oregano, sour cherry, boysenberry, resin. The drink is distinguished by high tannins and acidity, rich ruby color.
The best examples of this species are produced in the Abruzzo region. Abruzzo Montepulciano wine has an almost inky black color, aromas of dark fruits and chocolate notes.
Styles
Dry wine Montepulciano is of two types: aged in oak and young.
Aged much darker, notes of prunes, licorice, vanilla, mocha coffee and, in fact, oak are added to the fruity aroma. To get rid of the spicy tannic aftertaste, the drink must be aged for at least 4 years, but it receives Riserva status after two years of aging. This Montepulciano costs about 30-80 dollars per bottle.
When it comes to young wine, some producers reduce the concentration of tannins by removing the skins from the pulp during fermentation, so the drink is lighter and often even categorized as rosé wines rather than red wines. The bouquet is dominated by red fruits and berries, raspberries, cranberries, light notes of violets, dried herbs, you can often catch a barely noticeable aftertaste of the earth. A bottle of young Montepulciano costs between $9-$15.
Production regions
99% of Montepulciano is produced in Italy, also small productions of this wine are located in Argentina and the USA.
In Italy, strict quality standards are set in each region of production.
- Abruzzo (Abruzzo):
- Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC (at least 85% Montepulciano, the rest may be Sangiovese);
- Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Colline Teramane DOCG (at least 90%);
- Controguerra Rosso DOC (at least 60%).
- March (Marche):
- Rosso Conero DOC (minimum 85%);
- Rosso Piceno DOC (30-70%);
- Offida Rosso DOCG (minimum 85%).
- Молиз (Molise):
- Offida Rosso DOCG (60-70%).
- Пуглия (Puglia):
- San Severo Rosso DOC (minimum 70%).
How to drink Montepulciano wine
Like any medium-bodied red wine, Montepulciano goes well with a variety of dishes, but it makes the most successful gastronomic pairings with meat, especially if it is sufficiently fatty and cooked with spices.
Win-win options:
- Meat: pork, beef burgers, Bolognese pasta with minced meat, barbecue or kebab, English shepherd’s pie, pizza with meat, etc.
- Cheese: Baked Macaroni and Cheese, Mature Cheddar, Parmesan, Pepper Jack.
- Seasonings: oregano, thyme, rosemary, sage, coriander, black pepper, cumin, cumin, dried jalapeno, cocoa, coffee.
- Vegetables: baked potatoes with various fillings, hamburgers with vegetables, fried mushrooms, wild rice with beans, Jerusalem artichoke.