Producers

Fattoria Nicodemi

Fattoria Nicodemi is in Notaresco, in the heart of the Colline Teramane zone. The hilly estate covers a single plot of 38 hectares, of which 30 are under vine. The land, at about 300 metres in altitude, is aspected to the south east, with Mount Gran Sasso watching its back, and the sea at about 10 kilometres. At the farm they work with organic practices, with no use of chemical herbicides, pesticides or fertilisers on the vines, preferring spontaneous grassing in the rows. In the same spirit, the new vineyards are planted with a mass selection taken from our heirloom vines. We believe in biodiversity and even our new vines are selected from our heirloom cultivars, because something that was good in the past can play a role in the future.

Abruzzo

Italy is seldom known for the simplicity of its wines, yet the ruggedly mountainous region of Abruzzo offers an abundance of delightful, uncomplicated wines that tend to represent good value.

The region has three main, historical DOCs, including the red Montepulciano d’Abruzzo and white Trebbiano d’Abruzzo. The third DOC Controguerra is also for wines based on Montepulciano and other native grapes. Not to be confused with the town in Tuscany whose exceptional Vino Nobile is also gaining international recognition, the Montepulciano grape has gained a substantial following for its fruit-forward, complex yet approachable reds.

Some of the best wines come from the Teramo area, where a single DOCG exists for Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Colline Teramane, while some classic rosé wines – known as Cerasuolo - are now offered under their own DOC appellation. The new Abruzzo DOC has several interesting, high-quality sub-zones for Montepulciano wines, such as Terre di Casauria, Terre dei Vestini and Alto Tirino.

The Trebbiano grape is best known for dry, light and easy drinking wines with subtle citrus flavours. However some interesting wines are being developed from the "authentic" Trebbiano d’Abruzzo grape, which some think to be related to Apulia’s Bombino Bianco. They are capable of developing in bottle for a few years into wines of great character and complexity.