[Sponsored by Talamonti]
Which are the first Italian wine regions you can think about? Probably Tuscany, Piedmont and Veneto.

Not a lot of people know that Abruzzo, a small central region of Italy, is a great wine producer.
The landscape has been heavily shaped over millions of years by multiple glacial processes. However, the most important environmental characteristic of present day Abruzzi is its incredible biodiversity. Filled with an impressive number of National Parks, the region borders the Apennine mountain range towards west, the Maiella mountain range towards south, the Sibylline massif towards North and the Adriatic Sea towards east. Over 20% of the Abruzzi region is covered by woods.

A great wine producer of the region is Talamonti. Representing the best of Abruzzo and its local wines, Talamonti is located in Loreto Aprutino. This area is nestled in a very unique position for central Italy. At 300 meters above sea level, Loreto Aprutino sits closely to a geomorphologic rarity: the Ghiacciaio del Calderone, the southernmost glacier in Europe and the only one in the central Mediterranean area. The origin of the name “Loreto Aprutino” can be found in ancient Roman times and is credited to a forest of bay leave trees that supposedly dominated the area back then. Loreto Aprutino boasts ancient origins dating back to Italic, Roman and early Christian settlements.

The climate of Loreto Aprutino is strongly influenced by both the Apennine Mountain range and the Adriatic Sea, each only a few kilometers away. Average temperatures during the year however around 15°C with a maximum temperature of 35°C during the summer and -2°C during the winter. During the winter – although the proximity to the Adriatic Sea more often results in milder temperatures versus the rest of central Italy – cold wind currents from the Balkans can drop temperatures dramatically and bring snow. This results in tougher winters than what is found in other areas at the same latitude

Archaeological remains pertaining to the production of wine and extra-virgin olive oil can be found in the ancient town of Loreto Aprutino. This thousand year tradition has today become so widespread that out of 7500 inhabitants in Loreto Aprutino there are over 1400 producers, and Talamonti among them. The wines of Abruzzo are cited by several authors over the centuries, including Ovid, Pliny and Martial. Stories about the health benefits of Abruzzo’s red wine flourished thousands of years ago. Even the cure for Hannibal’s horses from scurvy in 216 BC is attributed to Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. As a result, for the past 200 years wine producers in Tuscany and in the Abruzzi region have debated the true origin and paternity of the name “Montepulciano”. The confusion stems from the capacity of both to produce great wines. However, the ripening period for Sangiovese and Montepulciano are distant apart, demonstrating the difference. As far as Trebbiano is concerned, one clone is already mentioned by the Bolognese agronomist De Crescentiis in 1303. This grape is planted throughout most of Italy but only in specific terroir does the grape truly express its full potential. Although many clones of Trebbiano exist, only one of these can compared to the great white wines of the world: Trebbiano d’Abruzzo produced in Loreto Aprutino. Often compared to Semillion by experts, Loreto Aprutino’s Trebbiano d’Abruzzo can display an impressive freshness and youthful characteristics even after 10 years, uncommon feat for most Italian whites. Furthermore, do not forget Loreto Aprutino is home to the first Denominazione d’Origine Protetta for olive oil of Europe: The Aprutino-Pescarese DOP assigned on July 1st 1996 by the European Union.

Talamonti staff is selected from a pool of young talent, rich in great potential. They are trained to evolve into a cohesive leadership team ready to make its own mark. They are the future stars of the region, sharing a vivid common goal: to innovate in the Abruzzo region and become the quality benchmark for the region around the world. The objective of Talamonti lies in constantly researching, improving, and developing its own heritage.

The winemaking philosophy of Talamonti is enclosed in these words: understanding the initial raw material and interpreting the smallest details. Step-by-step in all the phases of the wine-making process flow. The winemaker’s profound knowledge paired to the constant commitment of the cellar master in the attentive processing of the ripest grapes, guarantees a high quality standard that thrives in the most complex of perfumes and aromas, all fully respecting of the land of origin.