Hermelina Ressa formerly with the Italian Trade Commission, New York is assisting Marina Thompson of Thompson International Marketing of Rome, Italy in organizing a tasting of Colline Teramane Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOCG produced by seven estates located in the Abruzzi region: Centorame, Colonnella, Contucci Ponno, Arte Vini di Bonaventura, Di Giovanpietro, Faraone and Pepe Emidio. The informal tasting will begin at 11:30 a.m. Monday, June 26, in the Old Ebbit Grill, 675 15th Street.
Eight estates will present their versions of the same wine at a luncheon immediately following the tasting at 12:30 p.m. The owners or importers of the estates will attend and respond to questions posed by the guests. The participating houses: Monti, Stefania Pepe, Lepore and Montori, Niccodemi, Illuminati, San Lorenzo and Villa Medoro.
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Colline Teramane only recently—February 20, 2003—entered the ranks of Italy's most highly rated wines, the Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) category. The production zone is located in the hills of the province of Teramo, one of the four into which the Abruzzi is divided. The zone extends inland from the Adriatic toward the peaks of the central Apennines and the exchange of breezes and moisture between sea and mountain creates highly favorable conditions for the cultivation of wholesome grapes and the production of outstanding wines. The zone of origin includes 31 communal territories in Teramo province.
The Montepulciano variety, which is unrelated, apparently, to the town of the same name in southern Tuscany, accounts for at least 90% of the wine's mix, while Sangiovese can be used in a ratio of no more than 10%. This red wine's rich, smooth flavor combines exceptionally well with the traditional dishes of the local cuisine as well as more adventurous fare.
"The program we have organized for this DOCG wine is intended to call attention to a remarkable but relatively little known product that is bound to attract wine lovers everywhere because of its recent elevation to DOCG status but even more basically because of its fine quality," said Ms. Thompson. "It's an easy-going wine but it also has power and depth, especially in the Riserva type."