Controguerra is a village in the province of Teramo, in the north-eastern corner of Abruzzo, on the hills between the Tronto river and the sea. The DOC bearing its name, recognised in 1996, covers the whole of the municipalities of Controguerra, Torano Nuovo, Ancarano, Corropoli and Colonnella. It is a small appellation, about 39 hectares and 2,230 hectolitres, but with a very wide range of wines.
Whites and reds
The Bianco requires at least 50% Trebbiano and at least 10% Passerina. Then there are the varietal whites, each with at least 85% of the grape: Pecorino, Passerina and Chardonnay. The Rosso and Rosato require at least 70% Montepulciano; the Rosso also comes as a Riserva and a Novello. Cabernet and Merlot, with at least 85% of their respective grapes, complete the range. Minimum alcohol is 11.5%.
Bubbles, passito and Annoso
The Spumante Metodo Classico combines at least 60% Trebbiano with at least 30% Chardonnay, Pecorino and Verdicchio. It spends at least 18 months on the lees, the Millesimato at least 24. The sweet wines include Passito Bianco, from Malvasia, Passerina and Trebbiano, and Passito Rosso, from Montepulciano, released no earlier than 1 December after the harvest. The rarest version is Annoso, a passito aged for at least 30 months.
Controguerra Pecorino is fresh and savoury, with aromas of aromatic herbs and yellow fruit; the Montepulciano Rosso is full-bodied, with dark fruit and soft tannins.
A tradition renewed
The Teramo area has a very old wine history, but until the eighteenth century production remained artisanal. From the second half of the nineteenth century viticulture began to modernise thanks to figures such as Giuseppe Devincenzi and Giuseppe Montori. Today Controguerra wines go with Teramo cooking: Pecorino with scrippelle crêpes and Adriatic fish, the Rosso with timballo and grilled meat. In the same province, Montepulciano finds its highest expression in the Colline Teramane.
