Cantina Pasetti: A Mountain Montepulciano

As a proud northern Abruzzese (from Teramo) I love the Montepulciano from Pepe and the wineries that help bring recognition to the only regional Docg Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Colline Teramane, but I must admit that the wines from Azienda Pasetti in Francavilla (Ch) are truly excellent, well crafted and respectful of tradition.

The winery, over the years, has expanded into the Abruzzo hinterland, finding its ideal habitat in Pescosansonesco (550 m a.s.l.) at the foot of the Gran Sasso d'Italia,
Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga and in Capestrano.

A captivating territory, rich in history, art and traditions, shaped by a particularly favorable climate for viticulture, with high temperature variations, good ventilation, soils ranging from clay-limestone to skeleton-rich with a rocky subsoil.

Mimmo Pasetti's decision, back in the 1960s, to move the vineyards to the inner part of the region was a choice of eco-sustainability to allow the grapes to grow and ripen in harmony with the land, at some of the highest elevations in the area (550 meters) where the soil and climate conditions allow the avoidance of synthetic products and pesticides. All of this guided by a single principle that Mimmo has always embraced: "Wine is not made in the cellar, it is made in the fields – if we are skilled, we can only preserve the distinctive character of the fruit. From good grapes you can make good wine; from bad ones, never."

Only native grape varieties, starting with Pecorino, a rediscovered variety since 2000, of ancient origin, rich in aromatic compounds, well-balanced, with a red-wine-level alcohol content and the right acidity, moving on to Montepulciano, Trebbiano and the recovery of ancient varieties long since abandoned: Moscatello di Castiglione and Campolese, a particular Apennine clone of Passerina, across 40 hectares of planted vineyard.

The winery has grown over the years to produce around 500,000 bottles with twenty employees, an agronomist, two oenologists and an external consultant. The idea, however, is to remain at these levels, serving a predominantly regional market that absorbs 70% of production, leaving the remaining 30% to foreign markets – Europe first, followed by the United States, Asia and emerging countries such as Peru and Albania. Several production lines include the Pasetti line, the Linea Oro, the Linea Capestrano, the Linea Top and the Storica Linea Testarossa, which takes its name from grandmother Rachele, nicknamed "cocciarosce" for the color of her hair.

A line that expresses strength, elegance and typicity – values that have been handed down through time with love and passion – and that we find in Montepulciano Testarossa, the winery's historic wine. An intense red, with clear notes of black cherry, sweet tobacco and liquorice. A structured wine, appropriately tannic and persistent, in perfect balance after two years in wood. An excellent pairing with Arrosticini di Pecora or even better with Pecora alla Callara.