2022 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

La Valentina remains one of the top-quality leaders in Abruzzo, with vineyards that span the region's higher and lower elevations. The parcels around San Martino include older Pergola-trained vines planted as far back as 1971 between 250-300 meters in elevation. The company is organic throughout all its vineyards, except for the vines that produce Binomio, the joint project between La Valentina and Stefano Inama of the Inama winery in Soave. In 2023, nearly 70% of production was lost to peronospora as spraying of organic compounds became impossible due to the rain. La Valentina relies on estate vineyards and rented parcels yet has full control and management of their vines. This is also one of the few estates that integrated irrigation, a saving grace in a vintage like 2024, including pumping water from a nearby river and trucking it to the vines to be sprayed. Ultimately, this expense and extra work are worth it because they ensure the health of the vines. The wines throughout the portfolio are fantastic, with the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Spelt being a standout in each vintage. Look for the new Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Docheio, which was aged entirely in amphora with half whole bunches and the other half destemmed. It’s a wildly fresh wine that speaks volumes about the level of quality that is possible without using oak in the aging process.