The revolution of the Abruzzo Model begins among subzones and mentions, Abruzzo puts quality first

The “Abruzzo Model,” the reorganization of the Region’s DOCs and DOCGs wines strongly advocated by the Consorzio Tutela Vini D’Abruzzo, is finally a reality. Since its debut at Vinitaly, the first labels of Pecorino, Cerasuolo, and Trebbiano D’Abruzzo Superiore can now be found on the market, with Montepulciano D’Abruzzo expected in the coming years after its aging period.

Presented in 2023, the goal of this qualitative revolution is very clear: on one hand, to enhance individual territories, and on the other, to create a real hierarchy within the denominations to allow consumers to make informed choices.

A necessary goal for a region that exports 70% of its production and increasingly has to face the modern challenges of today’s wine market, which depend more and more on fashions, trends, and inflationary pressures. “It becomes essential for the territories to equip themselves with flexible, effective tools that can be transparent to the consumer,”explains Alessandro Nicodemi, President of the Consorzio Tutela Vini D’Abruzzo. “For this reason, we have adopted precise rules aimed at enhancing those productions characterized by stricter production measures, especially those destined for aging for important and distinctive reserves of the different provincial territories. It was therefore decided to obligatorily accompany the mention ‘Superiore’ with the subzones Colline Pescaresi, Colline Teramane, Terre de L’Aquila, Terre di Chieti for all varieties produced.”

Only for the mentions “Superiore” and “Riserva” it will be possible to highlight on the label the reference to smaller and more identifiable territories such as the provincial ones and, in the future, even more restricted ones like the UGA, up to obviously the single mention of “vigna.” Both Superiore and Riserva will have to obligatorily display the provincial subzone on the label.

Among the innovations introduced by the Abruzzo Model is also the consolidation of all regional IGPs into a single Regional Indication, the Terre d’Abruzzo IGP.

After the project’s preview presentation at Vinitaly, with two masterclasses conducted by Filippo Bartolotta, the references are now ready to be tasted in all the countries where Abruzzo wines are exported.