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Abruzzo DOC

Note: Varietal wines are permitted to put the name of the variety before the denomination name, e.g., “Passerina d’Abruzzo DOC,” confusingly giving the impression of being from a different denomination altogether.

Region: Abruzzo

Synopsis

Region:

History: Established as a DOC in 2010

Vineyard Area: 396 ha / 978 acres (2021)

Production: 17,200 hl / 191,200 cases (2022)

Principal White Grape Varieties:

Principal Red Grape Varieties:

Styles and Wine Composition

WHITE WINES
  • Bianco (Wh): Minimum 85% Trebbiano (Abruzzese and/or Toscano) + OAG (maximum 10% aromatic grapes)
  • Cococciola (Wh): Minimum 85% Cococciola + OAWG
  • Malvasia (Wh): Minimum 85% Malvasia (Bianca Lunga, di Candia, and/or Istriana) + OAWG
  • Montonico (Wh): Minimum 85% Montonico Bianco + OAWG
  • Passerina (Wh): Minimum 85% Passerina + OAWG
  • Pecorino (Wh): Minimum 85% Pecorino + OAWG
  • Dual varietals (Wh): Maximum 85% Cococciola, Malvasia, Montonico Bianco, Passerina, or Pecorino; minimum 15% of a second variety from that group
  • Superiore (varietals from a subzone): Minimum 90% Cococciola, Malvasia, Montonico Bianco, Passerina, or Pecorino + OAWG
  • Riserva (Bianco from a subzone): Minimum 90% Trebbiano + OAG
ROSATO WINES
  • Rosato or Rosa or Rosé (Ro): Minimum 85% Montepulciano + OAG (maximum 10% aromatic grapes)
  • Superiore (Rosato from a subzone): Minimum 90% Montepulciano + OAG
RED WINES
  • Rosso (Rd): Minimum 85% Montepulciano + OANRG
  • Riserva (Rosso from a subzone): Minimum 90% Montepulciano + OANRG
SPARKLING WINES
  • Spumante Bianco (WhSp): Minimum 60% Chardonnay, Cococciola, Montonico Bianco, Passerina, Pecorino, Pinot Nero vinified as a white wine, and/or Trebbiano + OAG (maximum 10% aromatic grapes)
  • Varietal Spumante (WhSp): Minimum 85% Cococciola, Malvasia, Montonico Bianco, Passerina, or Pecorino + OAWG
  • Spumante Rosé (RoSp): Minimum 60% Montepulciano and/or Pinot Nero + OAG (maximum 10% aromatic grapes)
  • Trabocco (proprietary designation of the consorzio—see note below)
DESSERT AND SPECIALTY WINES
  • Passito Bianco (Wh, WhSw): Minimum 60% Gewürztraminer, Malvasia, Moscato, Passerina, Pecorino, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and/or Trebbiano + OAG
  • Passito Rosso (Rd, RdSw): Minimum 85% Montepulciano + OAG

Subzones and Other Geographic Terms

  • Terre Aquilane/Terre de L’Aquila (Superiore and Riserva only)
  • Terre di Chieti (Superiore and Riserva only)
  • Colline Pescaresi (Superiore and Riserva only)
  • Colline Teramane (Superiore and Riserva only)

Significant Production Rules

  • Spumante may be made by either the Metodo Classico (wines undergo second fermentation in bottles) or the Charmat method (fermented in pressurized tanks)
  • Minimum alcohol level: 11.0% for Bianco, Cococciola, Montonico, all Charmat-method spumanti, and varietal-labeled Metodo Classico spumanti; 11.5% for Rosato, Malvasia, Passerina, and Pecorino; 12.0% for all Superiore wines, Rosso, and nonvarietal Metodo Classico spumanti; 12.0% for Passito (14.0% potential; 16.0% potential if labeled as “vino di uve appassite”); 12.5% for Bianco Riserva; 13.0% for Rosso Riserva
  • Residual sugar: Nonvarietal Metodo Classico spumanti can range from brut nature (zero dosage) to extra dry; varietal Metodo Classico spumanti and all Charmat-method spumanti can range from brut nature to demisec
  • Aging: For Bianco, white varietals, Rosato, and Charmat-method spumanti, minimum approx. 2–3 months (ERD = December 1, V); for Rosso, minimum approx. 3–4 months (ERD = January 1, V+1); for all Superiore wines, minimum 4–5 months (ERD = February 1, V+1); for Passito, minimum approx. 6 months (ERD = March 1, V+1); for Bianco Riserva, minimum 15 months (ERD = February 1, V+2); for nonvintage Metodo Classico, minimum 18 months in bottle, including 15 months on the lees (ERD = approx. April 1, V+2); for vintage-dated Metodo Classico, minimum 24 months in bottle, including 18 months on the lees (ERD = approx. October 1, V+2); for Rosso Riserva, minimum 24 months, including 6 months in barrel (ERD = November 1, V+2)

Last Disciplinare Modification:

07/31/2024

Notes:

Note: The Vini d’Abruzzo consorzio has established the proprietary designation Trabocco, which is usable only by consorzio members for sparkling wines produced by the Italian (tank/Charmat) method from native grape varieties: white Cococciola, Montonico Bianco, Passerina, Pecorino, Trebbiano, and/or (for rosé sparkling wines) red Montepulciano. The term is not an official part of the DOC’s disciplinare.

Abruzzo Map

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