Montepulciano

Montepulciano carries the VIVC prime name Montepulciano, variety number 7949, with a black (noir) berry skin. VIVC records Italy as its country of origin. Its parentage is unknown: both parent fields in the passport are blank, and no full pedigree is recorded. The passport flags offspring, but no children or siblings are linked to Montepulciano in WineWiki's VIVC-derived lineage data.

• VIVC prime name: Montepulciano; VIVC variety number 7949; berry skin color: noir (black)
• Country of origin in the passport: Italy
• Parents: none recorded (parentage unknown)
• Offspring: flagged in the VIVC passport; none linked in WineWiki's lineage data

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo was established as a DOC in 1968, and its Colline Teramane subzone became a separate DOCG in 2003. The Emidio Pepe estate has made Montepulciano d'Abruzzo since 1964; its founder was born and began making wine in the house in Torano Nuovo that is now the estate's agriturismo.

• Montepulciano d'Abruzzo was established as a DOC in 1968
• Emidio Pepe has made Montepulciano d'Abruzzo since 1964, in Torano Nuovo, where its founder was born and began making wine

Montepulciano is grown primarily in Abruzzo and Puglia, and also in Marche and Molise. In Abruzzo it is the principal red grape of the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC and of Colline Teramane Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOCG, which was formerly part of the DOC and requires a minimum of 90% Montepulciano. In Marche, Montepulciano is the principal red grape of Cònero DOCG, and Rosso Cònero DOC is also among the denominations that use it.

• Colline Teramane Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOCG (Abruzzo): a separate DOCG since 2003, minimum 90% Montepulciano
• Cònero DOCG (Marche): Montepulciano is the principal red grape, with a minimum of 85% in its Riserva
• Other denominations that use Montepulciano include Rosso Cònero DOC, Castel del Monte DOC and Velletri DOC

Montepulciano wines range from light to full bodied, with soft tannins and aromas and flavors of red cherry and herbs. Jancis Robinson calls Montepulciano an "Italian vine that will ripen only in the southern half of the country to produce good-value, full-bodied, juicy wines, especially in the Abruzzi."

• Aromas and flavors: red cherry and herbs
• Body: light to full; tannins: soft
• Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo, a rosato of at least 85% Montepulciano, has had its own DOC since 2010

In the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC, Riserva can come from any subzone, and Teate Riserva and Terre dei Peligni Riserva need a minimum of 30 months of aging, including 9 months in barrel. Cònero DOCG Riserva needs a minimum of 2 years. At Emidio Pepe, decanting has a long history, going back to Emidio's decision to age the wine without ever filtering it.

• Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC: Teate Riserva and Terre dei Peligni Riserva need a minimum of 30 months, including 9 months in barrel
• Emidio Pepe: wine aged without ever being filtered

Emidio Pepe has made Montepulciano d'Abruzzo since 1964, and its founder was born and began making wine in the house in Torano Nuovo that is now the estate's agriturismo. Emidio decided to age the wine without ever filtering it, and decanting has a long history at the estate.

• Emidio Pepe (Torano Nuovo): Montepulciano d'Abruzzo since 1964, aged without filtering

Primary sources: https://www.vivc.de/index.php?r=passport%2Fview&id=7949 ; https://www.emidiopepe.com/ Reference sources: https://italianwinecentral.com/variety/montepulciano/ ; https://italianwinecentral.com/denomination/montepulciano-dabruzzo-doc/ ; https://italianwinecentral.com/denomination/colline-teramane-montepulciano-dabruzzo-docg/ ; https://italianwinecentral.com/denomination/conero-docg/ ; https://italianwinecentral.com/denomination/cerasuolo-dabruzzo-doc/ ; https://www.jancisrobinson.com/learn/grape-varieties/red/montepulciano Last verified 2026-10-27