Forbes wrote a featured dedicated to Northern Italy’s Abruzzo winemaking region, famed for Montepulciano and Trebbiano grapes. The story hones in on Masciarelli, the pioneering family-owned winery that is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, as well as its beautiful Castello di Semivicoli property. In addition to the anniversary, last year, “its Marina Cvetić Iskra Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva 2016 won the platinum medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards scoring 97 points.”
The detailed story speaks to the history of the estate and how the Masciarelli family helped put the Abruzzo region on the map with innovative techniques and world-class wine production. In addition to its linea classica Masciarelli label, the writer explains that the winery also produces The Marina Cvetić line, “which Gianni Masciarelli named after and dedicated to his wife, includes a Trebbiano d’Abruzzo DOC Riserva of a complex character developed thanks to aging in oak barriques. This line also includes a Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC Riserva, the company’s best-selling wine, perhaps for its skillful balance of fresh, aromatic flavors.”
Offering more background on the range, “their top-level Villa Gemma label includes the finest of their Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC Riserva, a powerful wine with an aging potential that produces surprising and explosive flavors. In the same line is the Bianco Colline Teatine IGT, a blend of Trebbiano, Pecorino and Cococciola grapes that has created a fresh, delicate, aromatic wine ideal for aperitifs. The third is what the staff at Masciarelli call the “wine of friendship.” The Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC is a rosé made with Montepulciano grapes with intense cherry flavors and a little fizz with a “great capacity for merrymaking.”
The writer also shares anecdotes from cooking classes and other activities enjoyed at the Castello di Semivicoli property, which you can read more about HERE