Montepulciano [ˌmontepulˈtʃaːno] is a red Italian wine grape variety that is most noted for being the primary grape behind the Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) wine Offida Rosso, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Colline Teramane (as well its larger DOC outside of Colline Teramane), Rosso Conero and the Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) wines Rosso Piceno Superiore.
It should not be confused with the similarly named Tuscan wine Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, which is made from predominantly Sangiovese and is named for the village it is produced in, rather than for containing any Montepulciano grapes in the blend.
The grape is widely planted throughout central and southern Italy, most notably in Abruzzo, Latium, Marche, Molise, Umbria and Apulia, and is a permitted variety in DOC wines produced in 20 of Italy's 95 provinces. Montepulciano is rarely found in northern Italy because the grape has a tendency to ripen late and can be excessively "green" if harvested too early.
When fully ripened, Montepulciano can produce deeply colored wines, with moderate acidity and noticeable extract and alcohol levels.
Origins and confusion with other Montepulciano wines
According to wine expert Jancis Robinson, the Montepulciano grape likely originated in Tuscany and may be related to the Sangiovese, with which it is often confused. Despite this possible origin, the Montepulciano grape still does not seem to have any tangible connection to the village of that name or to the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, beyond what Robinson describes as "linguistics". Furthermore, despite being widely planted throughout central Italy, the Montepulciano grape is not even grown in the vineyards around the village of Montepulciano.
After Sangiovese, Montepulciano is Italy's second most widely dispersed indigenous grape variety. It is a recommended planting in 20 of Italy's 95 provinces and is a permitted or required grape in the red wines of DOCs in Apulia, Molise, Latium, Umbria, Marche, Emilia-Romagna, Abruzzi and Tuscany. Among the DOCs that are most noted for Montepulciano are Montepulciano d'Abruzzo in Abruzzi, Offida Rosso DOCG, Rosso Conero and Rosso Piceno in Marche. Though it is a secondary variety to Uva di Troia in the Castel Del Monte DOC, according to wine expert Jancis Robinson the character that Montepulciano contributes to the blend as perhaps "its finest incarnation".
DOCs and DOCGs
The following is a list of DOCs and DOCGs that include Montepulciano as a permitted grape variety, along with other grapes that may be included in the blend under varying percentages that are regulated under the DOC/G label. The wines of which Montepulciano must account for a majority of the blend are in bold.
Alezio DOC – (Apulia) can be blended with Negroamaro, Sangiovese and MalvasiaBiferno DOC – (Molise) Must be 60–70% of the wine. Can be blended with Trebbiano Toscano (in rosé and red wines) and AglianicoBrindisi DOC – (Apulia) can be blended with Negroamaro, Sangiovese and MalvasiaCacc'e mmitte di Lucera DOC – (Apulia) can be blended with Sumarello, Sangiovese, Malvasia, Trebbiano and Bombino biancoCastel Del Monte DOC – (Apulia) can be blended with Uva di Troia, Sangiovese, Aglianico and Pinot noirCastelli Romani DOC – (Latium) can be blended with Cesanese, Merlot, Sangiovese and Nero BuonoCerveteri DOC – (Latium) can be blended with Sangiovese, Cesanese, Canaiolo nero, Carignan and BarberaCesanese di Olevano Romano DOC – (Latium) can be blended with Cesanese, Sangiovese, Barbera, Trebbiano and Bambino biancoColli Amerini DOC – (Umbria) can be blended with Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo, Canaiolo, Merlot and BarberaColli Etruschi Viterbesi DOC – (Latium) can be blended with SangioveseColli Maceratesi DOC – (Marche) can be blended with Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Ciliegiolo, Lacrima, Merlot and Vernaccia neraColli Martani DOC – (Umbria) can be blended with Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Ciliegiolo, Barbera, Merlot, Trebbiano, Grechetto, Malvasia, Garganega and VerdicchioColli Perugini DOC – (Umbria) can be blended with Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo, Barbera and MerlotColli Pesaresi DOC – (Marche) can be blended with Sangiovese and CiliegioloColli di Rimini DOC – (Emilia-Romagna) can be blended with Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Barbera, Terrano and AncellottaCollo della Romagna Centrale DOC – (Emilia-Romagna) can be blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Barbera and MerlotColli della Sabina DOC – (Latium) can be blended with SangioveseConero DOCG – (Marche) at least 85–100% of the wine with Sangiovese making up the other componentControguerra DOC – (Abruzzi) At least 60% of the blend. Can be blended with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet FrancCopertino DOC – (Abruzzi) can be blended with Negroamaro, Malvasia and SangioveseCori DOC – (Latium) can be blended with Nero Buono and Bonvino neroEsino DOC – (Marche) Along with Sangiovese must be at least 60% of the blend with local varieties filling out the restGioia del Colle DOC – (Apulia) can be blended with Primitivo, Sangiovese, Negroamara and MalvasiaLacrima di Morro d'Alba DOC – (Marche) can be blended with Lacrima and VerdicchioLeverano DOC – (Apulia) can be blended with Negroamaro, Malvasia and SangioveseLizzano DOC – (Apulia) can be blended with Negroamaro, Sangiovese, Bombino nero, Pinot noir and MalvasiaMontepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC – (Abruzzi) at 85% of the wine. Can be blended with SangioveseMontepulciano d'Abruzzo Colline Teramane DOCG – (Abruzzi) at least 85% of the wine. Can be blended with SangioveseNardo DOC – (Apulia) can be blended with Negro Amaro and MalvasiaOffida DOCG – (Marche) at least 50% of the wine. Can be blended with Cabernet SauvignonOrta Nova DOC – (Apulia) can be blended with Uva di Troia, Lambrusco Maestri and Trebbiano.Parrina DOC – (Tuscany) can be blended with Sangiovese, Canaiolo and ColorinoPentro di Isernia DOC – (Molise) at least 45–55% of the wine with Sangiovese making up the other component.Rosso Barletta DOC – (Apulia) can be blended with Uva di Troia, Sangiovese and MalbecRosso Canosa DOC – (Apulia) can be blended with Uva di Troia and SangioveseRosso di Cerignola DOC – (Apulia) can be blended with Uva di Troia, Negroamaro, Sangiovese, Barbera, Malbec and TrebbianoRosso Conero DOC – (Marche) at least 85–100% of the wine with Sangiovese making up the other componentRosso Orvietano DOC – (Umbria) can be blended with Aleatico, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Canaiolo, Ciliegiolo, Merlot, Pinot noir, Sangiovese, Barbera, Cesanese, Colorino and Dolcetto. Can be a varietal with 85% of the blend but that is rarely seen.Rosso Piceno DOC – (Marche) can be blended with Sangiovese, Trebbiano and PasserinoSan Severo DOC – (Apulia) at least 70–100% of the blend with Sangiovese making up the other componentTarquinia DOC – (Latium) either/or with Sangiovese to make up a minimum 60% of the wine. Can be blended with CesaneseTorgiano DOC – (Umbria) can be blended with Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Trebbiano and CiliegioloTorgiano Rosso Riserva DOCG – (Umbria) can be blend with Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Trebbiano and Ciliegiolo.Velletri DOC – (Lazio) can be blended with Sangiovese, Cesanese, Bombino nero, Merlot and CiliegioloVernaccia di Serrapetrona DOCG – (Marche) can be blend with Vernaccia di Serrapetrona, Sangiovese and CiliegioloViticulture and wines
Montepulciano ripens late and has a tendency to favor producing large yields. The grapes can be plump with a low skin to juice ratio. However, the skin has a fair amount of pigmented tannins and color producing phenols that with maceration can produce either a deep ruby colored wine or a pink Cerasuolo wine. Compared to most Italian varieties, Montepulciano has moderately low acidity and more mild (i.e. softer) than bitter edged tannins. Wine expert Oz Clarke describes Montepulciano as producing a "round, plummy and weighty red with ripe tannins, good acidity and a low price tag." Jancis Robinson evaluates Montepulciano as a "promising variety" that produces smooth, drinkable wines that can improve for three or four years after vintage.
Various synonyms have been used to describe Montepulciano and its wines, including Cordicso, Cordiscio, Cordisco, Cordisio, Monte Pulciano, Montepulciano Cordesco, Montepulciano di Torre de Passeri, Montepulciano Primatico, Morellone, Premutico, Primaticcio, Primutico, Sangiovese Cardisco, Sangiovese Cordisco, Sangiovetto, Torre dei Passeri, Uva Abruzzese and Uva Abruzzi.