Montonico White Wine, an Abruzzo Native Grape

Santapupa Abruzzo Doc Montonico 2012

Today we go in search of an ancient native variety with white berries from the hills of Teramo, particularly from the inland area, in the municipality of Bisenti.
Ciapparone, bottato, racciapollona are some synonyms of the Montonico Bianco grape, cultivated in central-southern Italy and present in Abruzzo since at least the second half of the 1800s. In recent decades the cultivation of Montonico has declined significantly, to the point of risking extinction.

Cantina Vini La Quercia decided to embark on a journey of rediscovery and set out to recover and valorize this ancient grape variety.

An important distinction must be made between this grape and the Montonico di Calabria, which has entirely different characteristics.
The bunch is rather elongated in shape, large and compact, with medium-large berries and a very robust yellow skin with amber hues, and large pentagonal-shaped leaves.
Its ripening period is quite late, around mid-October; it adapts well to hilly, dry areas with good sun exposure. Montonico Bianco produces a wine with a straw yellow color of varying intensity with light greenish hues, not particularly high in alcohol but with good structure.

Now let's move on to the most interesting part, the tasting!
We open our beautiful bottle of Santapupa from Azienda Vini La Quercia, awarded best native white wine of Italy 2013 at the Autochtona Award 2013 in Bolzano.

Grape variety: 100% Montonico Bianco
Alcohol content: 11.5% vol.
Vintage: 2012
Serving temperature: 8-10°C

We begin our analysis with the visual examination: straw yellow in color with light greenish reflections, crystal clear and lively with medium body.
On the nose, delicate fruity aromas, with hints of apple, pear, peach, and grapefruit. Floral notes of white flowers with light herbaceous tones and almond.
On the palate it is dry, soft, fresh, fairly savory, and releases some citrus notes on the finish.
Certainly a very easy-drinking, pleasant, ready-to-drink wine that pairs easily with various dishes: cold appetizers, broths, fish-based risottos, fried or grilled fish, fish or vegetable soups, and white meats.

What can I say – I strongly recommend trying it, perhaps paired with a typical dish from the Bisenti area, the Ciavarra in guazzetto, mutton cooked in a clay pot with sauces, chili pepper, and various spices.
You will appreciate the heritage we were at risk of losing; credit goes to Vini La Quercia for their efforts in preventing this treasure of our land from disappearing.