A Few of the Local Wines of Vasto and Abruzzo
Wine shouldn’t be saved for a special occasion; a good wine is the occasion.
Wine isn’t reserved for special occasions, or a luxury in Italy. It is served with most meals, a part of everyday life, and inseparable from the cuisine and culture.
Like anything else, wine is only as good as the material you are starting with. The main variety of grape used in the red wines of Abruzzo is the Montepulciano grape, which is also the base for many of the best Italian red wines, and grows and matures exceptionally well in the rolling Abruzzo terrain.
As much a part of the regional identity of Vasto, as its relationship to the sea and its bounty, are the vineyards and olive groves that surround it and stretch from its beaches on the Adriatic to the foothills of the Apennines.
Some Common Local Wines
Pecorino - A fruity white wine made from Pecorino grapes.
Trebbiano - A white wine made from Trebbiano grapes grown in the Abruzzo region.
Montepulchiano d Abruzzo is a red wine made from the Montepulciano grape grown in the vineyards surrounding the Vasto region and nearby Chieti and is the most common grape in Abruzzo wine making.
Cerrasuola- is a little darker than a rose´. The name means cherry red. Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo is rose´ style wine made from the Montepulciano grape.
Differences Between Reds, Whites, And Rosé
Wine from the Tuscan town of Montepulchiano made from the Sangiovese grape, is not to be confused with the wine from the Montepulciano grapes of Abruzzo.
The key differences between red and white wine: red wine is fermented with the skins and seeds in the mash, giving color and body. When making white wine the grapes are pressed for their juice and are then fermented without the skins and seeds in order to preserve their fruitiness. When making Rosé or Cerasuolo wine the skins are present in the juice for several hours to add color.