La Monica Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
This wine presents a full range of sensations beginning with delicate ripe cherries and spices on the bouquet followed by mouthfilling fruit, rich, smooth tannins and well-balanced acidity on the palate leading to a robust finish.
$13.00 / Bottle $156.00 / Case
The Italians know their wines. They also know good value when they taste it. Maybe that’s why over 80% of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is consumed in Italy (with 25% remaining on the tables of the locals) leaving less than 20% to be exported and enjoyed by the rest of the world!
Montepulciano vineyards spread across the hillsides of Abruzzo from the slopes of Gran Sasso and Mt. Maiella down to the coastline of the Adriatic. Over 30,000 hectares are devoted to growing this grape, the fourth most widely grown in all of Italy.
That’s a lot of wine considering that it’s the sixth largest DOC in all of Italy! Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, from the Abruzzo region of eastern-central Italy, is often confused with Vino Nobile di Montepulciano from Tuscany.
Our wine takes its name from the Montepulciano grape, from which it is almost exclusively made (up to 10% Sangiovese or other permitted grape varieties can be blended in if the winemaker wishes). In contrast, Vino Nobile is made primarily from Sangiovese and takes its name from the Tuscan village of Montepulciano where it is produced.
This can all get quite confusing we know and that’s why we give you that bit of information that you wouldn’t find by browsing an overwhelming selection of wines on a store shelf.
La Monica is the result of an Italian - American collaboration in the best sense of the term. Italians have been making wines for centuries and Americans are learning to enjoy wine more than ever. “New” wines, especially if they are reasonably priced, are always enthusiastically welcomed by this generation of wine lovers. American and Italian tasters worked together to craft a wine that’s traditional without being rustic and modern without being standardized.
The result is delicious to drink on its own or with your favorite Italian dishes (especially when the recipe calls for wine!) or a simple plate of cheese and salami. Once you’ve tried La Monica, their export numbers will be changing!