# Valle Reale Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC (2025)

- **Producer:** Valle Reale
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Montepulciano
- **Region:** Abruzzo, Italy
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.0%
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, plum, blackberry, lavender, herbaceous, liquorice, leather, tobacco, cinnamon

## About this wine

Valle Reale is a family-owned winery in the Abruzzo region of Central Italy, managed by Leonardo Pizzolo. The estate cultivates vineyards in two distinct high-altitude sites, Popoli and Capestrano, situated between 300 and 450+ meters above sea level. The Popoli vineyard, with its rocky terrain, contributes freshness, minerality, and fragrance, while the Capestrano vineyard, characterized by warmer, silty-clay soils, adds richness and structure to the wines. This meticulous vineyard selection and high-altitude sourcing are hallmarks of Valle Reale's commitment to producing distinctive Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wines.

## Interesting facts

- Vineyards are situated at high altitudes (300-450+ meters) in Abruzzo's mountainous interior.
- Sourced from two distinct vineyards, Popoli and Capestrano, each contributing unique characteristics.
- The wine exhibits a vibrant, 'mountain-style' crispness, differentiating it from coastal Montepulciano.

## Food pairing

This medium-bodied Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, with its vibrant acidity, medium tannins, and pronounced dark fruit and herbal notes, pairs beautifully with robust flavors. The wine's structure can stand up to grilled and roasted meats, especially those with savory herbs. Its acidity cuts through the richness of pork and lamb, while its fruit profile complements tomato-based sauces. Aged hard cheeses find a worthy partner in the wine's tannins and structure.

## Wine making process

The 2025 Valle Reale Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC is a 100% Montepulciano wine. Grapes are sourced from two distinct family vineyards: Popoli, known for its rocky terrain contributing freshness and fragrance, and Capestrano, with warmer, silty-clay soils providing richness and structure. The high-altitude vineyards, ranging from 300 to 450+ meters, are crucial to the wine's character. The winemaking process emphasizes preserving the mountain-style crispness and fruit purity, resulting in a wine with vibrant acidity and fine-grained tannins.