Miracle Abruzzo... the Wine of Masciarelli

To tell the story of Gianni Masciarelli and his Estate is to tell the story of the rebirth of wine in Abruzzo.
It means telling of the tank trucks full of Montepulciano that traveled up the boot of Italy to bolster the wines of the north, poor in color and structure.
It means speaking of a man who, together with a handful of other producers (first and foremost Valentini and Pepe), always believed strongly in their own territory and in the potential of the traditional Abruzzese grape varieties, betting unequivocally on quality.
Thanks to these pioneers it was possible to witness the Miracle of Abruzzo.

Their commitment has been an inspiration for countless estates that today make Abruzzo one of the most interesting wine regions in Italy.
Drastic pruning to lower yields per hectare.
High planting densities.
Extreme care of the vineyards.
Cleanliness and technology in the cellar.
This is the creed with which many producers identify.
I remember a personal encounter with Gianni Masciarelli at the AIS in Rome one year before his untimely passing in 2008. I remember his passion for this world and his attachment to his Abruzzese roots, which are also part of my own heritage.
In his land, Gianni Masciarelli introduced the concepts of vineyard management he had learned in France.
At first, his working philosophy was criticized by virtually all of his colleagues.
His approach to cultivating, pruning, and producing wine was in stark contrast with what was the tradition in Abruzzo and in Italy.
But the true turning point came when he created his most prestigious wine: the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Villa Gemma, produced from pure Montepulciano grapes from his finest vineyard in San Martino sulla Marrucina in the province of Chieti, followed by a long aging in barrique – a powerful red still considered today among the finest in Italy.
A young estate that in just over twenty years was able to reach levels of excellence.
The winery is located in San Martino sulla Marrucina in the province of Chieti, at 410 meters above sea level, just 20 kilometers from the Adriatic Sea and 20 from the Maiella Massif.
From an initial 2.5 hectares, the winery now owns 220 hectares across all provinces of Abruzzo, of which 194 are planted to vineyard. The grape primarily cultivated is Montepulciano, which accounts for 70% of production, plus 20% Trebbiano and 10% Chardonnay and Cococciola, a native white grape.
The annual production of Cantina Masciarelli stands at over one and a half million bottles, divided across three estate lines: Masciarelli Classico, Villa Gemma, and Marina Cvetic.