Montepulciano (grape)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Montepulciano
Grape (Vitis)
Montepulciano growing in Abruzzi
Color of berry skinPurple
SpeciesVitis vinifera
OriginItaly
Notable regionsAbruzzo
VIVC number7949

Montepulciano (

Colline Teramane Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and Offida Rosso; and the DOC wines Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Rosso Conero, and Rosso Piceno Superiore
.

It should not be confused with the similarly named Tuscan wine Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, which is made from predominantly Sangiovese and is named for the town it is produced in, rather than for containing any Montepulciano grapes in the blend.

The grape is widely planted throughout central and southern Italy, most notably in

harvested
too early.

When fully ripened, Montepulciano can produce deeply

alcohol levels.[2]

Origins and confusion with other Montepulciano wines

The spread of the Montepulciano grape throughout Italy

According to wine expert Jancis Robinson, the Montepulciano grape likely originated in Tuscany and may be related to the Sangiovese, with which it is often confused. Despite this possible origin, the Montepulciano grape still does not seem to have any tangible connection to the town of that name or to the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, beyond what Robinson describes as "linguistics".[3][4] Furthermore, despite being widely planted throughout central Italy, the Montepulciano grape is not grown in the vineyards around the actual town of Montepulciano.[5]

Wine regions

After Sangiovese, Montepulciano is Italy's second most widely dispersed

Castel Del Monte DOC, according to wine expert Jancis Robinson the character that Montepulciano contributes to the blend as perhaps "its finest incarnation".[3]

DOCs and DOCGs

A Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wine made from the Montepulciano grape in the Abruzzo region

The following is a list of DOCs and DOCGs that include Montepulciano as a permitted grape variety, along with other grapes that may be included in the blend under varying percentages that are regulated under the DOC/G label. The wines of which Montepulciano must account for a majority of the blend are in bold.[6]

Viticulture and wines

Montepulciano D'Abruzzo wine

Montepulciano ripens late and has a tendency to favor producing large

acidity and more mild (i.e. softer) than bitter edged tannins.[4] Wine expert Oz Clarke describes Montepulciano as producing a "round, plummy and weighty red with ripe tannins, good acidity and a low price tag".[7] Jancis Robinson evaluates Montepulciano as a "promising variety" that produces smooth, drinkable wines that can improve for three or four years after vintage.[3]

Synonyms

Various synonyms have been used to describe Montepulciano and its wines, including Cordicso, Cordiscio, Cordisco, Cordisio, Monte Pulciano, Montepulciano Cordesco, Montepulciano di Torre de Passeri, Montepulciano Primatico, Morellone, Premutico, Primaticcio, Primutico, Sangiovese Cardisco, Sangiovese Cordisco, Sangiovetto, Torre dei Passeri, Uva Abruzzese and Uva Abruzzi.[8]

Outside Italy

Montepulciano is also grown in Turkey (Kemalpasa), Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, and the United States (California, North Carolina, and Texas).[9][10]

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Montepulciano (cépage).
  1. ^ "Montepulciano". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 2020-08-05.
  2. ISBN 0-19-860098-4
    .
  3. ^
    ISBN 1-85732-999-6
    .
  4. ^ a b "Montepulciano d'Abruzzo: A Wonderful Red Wine from the Region of Abruzzo".
  5. ISBN 0-19-860990-6
    .
  6. ISBN 1-55297-720-X
    .
  7. ISBN 0-15-100714-4
    .
  8. ^ "Montepulciano".
  9. ^ "Italian Grapes, American Tastes: Assessing New World Aglianico and Montepulciano".
  10. ^ "Montepulciano Grape Variety".
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