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Production specifications for D.O.C. Montepulciano d'AbruzzoControlled denomination of origin for “Montepulciano d’Abruzzo” wineProduction specifications Article 1 The “Montepulciano d’Abruzzo” controlled denomination of origin is limited to red and Cerasuolo wines which have the conditions and requisites established by the following production specifications. Article 2 “Montepulciano d’Abruzzo” wine must be made from grapes coming from vineyards in which “Montepulciano” vines are used. Grapes from other unspiced red grape vines can be added up to a maximum of 15% provided they are recommended or authorized by the provinces of Pescara, Chieti, L’Aquila and Teramo, either separately or jointly. Article 3 The grapes used in the making of controlled denomination of origin “Montepulciano d’Abruzzo” must be grown in the Abruzzo region and must be obtained only from vineyards situated in hilly areas or plateaus whose altitude is 500 metres above sea level or 600 metres if the vineyards are south facing or on hills sloping towards the sea except for humid valley bottoms. The territory involved in the making of “Montepulciano d’Abruzzo” wine includes: 1) In the province of Chieti the whole territory of the communes of: Altino, Archi, Ari, Arielli, Atessa, Bomba, Bucchianico, Canosa Sannita, Casanditella, Casalanguida, Casalincontrada, Carpineto Sinello, Casalbordino, Casoli, Castel Frentano, Celenza sul Trigno, Chieti, Crecchio, Cupello, Filetto, Fossacesia, Francavilla, Fresagrandinaria, Frisa, Furci, Gissi, Giuliano Teatino, Lanciano, Lentella, Miglianico, Monteodorisio, Mozzagrognia, Orsogna, Ortona, Paglieta, Perano, Poggiofiorito, Pollutri, Ripa Teatina, Rocca San Giovanni, San Buono, Sant'Eusanio del Sangro, San Giovanni Teatino, Santa Maria Imbaro, San Martino sulla Marrucina, San Salvo, San Vito Chietino, Scerni, Tollo, Torino di Sangro, Torrevecchia Teatina, Treglio, Vasto, Villalfonsina, Villamagna, Vacri; and parts of the communes of: Roccamontepiano and Fara F. Petri: it includes the communes situated to the east of the Serramonesca-Roccamontepiano provincial road and, to the north of the nearby Roccamontepiano-Fara F. Petri road, which is partly a cart track and partly tarmac ked, reaching 439, 442, 427, 385, 353, 302, 267 and 232 metres, and, in the commune of Fara F. Petri, the area to the east of the River Foro and the Vesola-San Martino ditch; Guardiagrele: the area to the east of the provincial road connecting Filetto with Casoli, including Guardiagrele station and San Domenico; Palmoli: the area to the north of the Fosso dell’Immerso and the Fosso Carracina. 2) In the province of Aquila the whole territory of the communes of: Acciano, Anversa degli Abruzzi, Balsorano, Bugnara, Canistro, Capestrano, Castel di Ieri, Castelvecchio Subequo, civita d'Antino, Civitella Roveto, Cocullo, Corfinio, Fagnano Alto, Fontevecchio, Fossa, Gagliano Aterno, Goriano Sicoli, Introdacqua, Molina aterno, Morino, Ofena, Pacentro, Poggio, Picenze, Pratola Peligna, Pettorano sul Gizio, Prezza, Raiano, Rocca Casale, San Demetrio nei Vestini, Sant'Eusanio Forconese, San Vincenzo, Valle Roveto, Secinaro, Sulmona, Tione, Villa S. Angelo, Villa S. Lucia, Vittorito. 3) In the province of Pescarathe whole territory of the communes of: Alanno, Bolognano, Bussi, Cappelle sul Tavo, Castiglione a Casauria, Catignano, Cepagatti, Città Sant'Angelo, Civitella Casanova, Civitaquana, Collecorvino, Cugnoli, Elice, Loreto Aprutino, Manoppello, Montesilvano, Moscufo, Nocciano, Penne, Pianella, Pietranico, Picciano, Pescara, Popoli, Rosciano, San Valentino, Scafa, Spoltore, Tocco Casauria, Torre de' Passeri, Turrivalignani, Vicoli; and parts of the communes of: Farindola: area to the east of the provincial roads: Penne-Arista bivio, Cupoli-Farindola, Farindola-Montebello di Bertona; Montebello di Bertona: area to the east of the Montebello-Farindola and Montebello-Vestea provincial roads; Brittoli: area to the east of the boundary, in a north-south direction, represented by the Brittoli-Vicoli road, in the stretch from the perimeter of the commune to Brittoli, and by a path starting from the above-mentioned road in the proximity of Brittoli, reaching 631, 547 and 614 metres, and a stretch of the cart track, situated to the east of S. Vito, which joins up with the cart track going through F.te Canale and leading to Boragna. From Boragna the boundary is the path leading to Pezzigliari as far as the perimeter of the village (542m); Corvara: area to the east of a boundary line, in a north-south direction, represented by a path which, starting from the village boundary (542m), joins up with a cart track at 581m and follows it southwards, reaching an altitude of 561m before joining up with a cart track at 572m leading to Corvara which at a certain point becomes a road. After the church the boundary follows the path and the cart track which go through the cemetery, reaching 719m and arriving at the edge of the village at Colle Pizzuto; Pescosansenesco: area to the east of the boundary, in a north-south direction, represented by the cart track starting from the edge of the village, reaching 661, 608 and 579 metres, and then joining up with the Pescosansenesco-Pescosansenesco Vecchio road in the proximity of Pescosansenesco before going back to the cart track, shortly after, in the proximity of the houses situated at 574m. The boundary then follows the above-mentioned cart track leaving it before C.le Grotta, in the proximity of km 8.630, to join up with the Pescosensenesco-Pescosasenesco Vecchio road which it follows for about 250 metres where it meets and follows a path which, after reaching 410m, arrives at the perimeter of the village; Lettomanoppello: area to the north of the boundary – in an east-west direction represented by a cart track which, starting from F.sso Pignataro reaches 492m and then continues southwards along the cart track leading to Madonna di Conicella. From Madonna di Conicella it goes west along the channel reaching F. Lavinio at the edge of the village; Serramonacesca: area to the north of the Manoppello-Serramonacesca provincial road and the Alento river. 4) In the province of Teramo the whole territory of the communes of: Alba Adriatica, Ancarano, Atri, Basciano, Bellante, Bisenti, Campli, Canzano, Castel Castagno, Castellato, Castiglione Messer Raimondo, Castilenti, Cellino Attanasio, Cermignano, Civitella del Tronto, Colledara, Colonella, Controguerra, Corropoli, Giulianova, Martinsicuro, Montefino, Montorio al Vomano, Morrodoro, Mosciano, Nereto, Notaresco, Penna S. Andrea, Pineto, Roseto degli Abruzzi, Sant'Egidio, Santo Omero, Silvi, Teramo, Torano Nuovo, Tortoreto, Tossicia e la frazione di Frignano del comune di Isola del Gran Sasso d'Italia. Article 4. The environmental and growing conditions of the vines used in the making of “Montepulciano d’Abruzzo” wine must be the traditional ones of the area and must be able to give the wine and grapes produced from them the specific characteristics of “Montepulciano d’Abruzzo”. Plant spacing, training and pruning techniques must be those generally used and should not in any way modify the characteristics of the grapes and wine. Thus the only vineyards which can be considered suitable are those in areas which conform to the conditions indicated in paragraph one of Article 3. Any kind of forcing is strictly forbidden. The maximum yield consented for the making of “Montepulciano d’Abruzzo” must not be more than 140 quintals per hectare for vineyards using a specialized viticulture. This limit also applies to promiscuous viticulture although in this case the yield must be calculated, unlike in the case of specialized viticulture, in relation to the actual surface area covered by the vines. The above-mentioned limit must also be respected in years of excellent harvests. In this case the grapes must be carefully graded as production cannot exceed 20% of the limit. The maximum yield of the grapes to be converted into wine must not exceed 70%. Article 5. Vinification, storage and ageing must be carried out within the production area indicated in Article 3. However, in conformity with local traditions, the above-mentioned operations can also be carried out in the whole area of the commune even if only a part of this area is indicated in Article 3. Montepulciano d’Abruzzo red wine cannot be consumed before the first of March in the year following the harvest; “Cerasuolo” can be consumed as from the first of January of the year following the grape harvest. The grapes used in vinification must give “Montepulciano d’Abruzzo” a minimum natural alcohol content of 11%. The grapes used in the making of “Montepulciano d’Abruzzo” wine with an additional geographical indication as established by article 6 of law 164/1992 and having a right to the qualification of “reserve” must give a minimum natural alcohol content of 11.5%. During vinification only honest and customary local enological practices which give the wine its distinctive characteristics are consented. Only an increase in the rectified must concentration (Mcr9), according to national and European Community laws is consented. If the grapes indicated in article 2 are vinified in the presence of skins for a limited period of fermentation, the wine obtained can be labelled “Cerasuolo” as a consequence of its cherry red colour. Article 6. On consumption “Montepulciano d’Abruzzo” wine must have the following characteristics: “Red” type:
“Cerasuolo” type:
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forests can modify, by decree, the above-mentioned limits regarding the total acidity and the net dry extract. |
