Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC, Trebbiano d'Abruzzo DOC, Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo DOCMontepulciano, Trebbiano Abruzzese, Pecorino, Passerina, CococciolaLoreto Aprutino
A Loreto Aprutino producer at Contrada Cordano covering Trebbiano, Pecorino, Passerina and Cococciola alongside Montepulciano and Cerasuolo.
Why locals love it: Loreto Aprutino is visited for two famous names, and this Contrada Cordano cellar covers all four Abruzzo whites, Trebbiano, Pecorino, Passerina and Cococciola, in one tasting.
Tip: It is the shortest route to understanding the Abruzzo white set: four native varieties from one hill, side by side, in one afternoon.
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC, Trebbiano d'Abruzzo DOC, Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo DOCLoreto Aprutino
A family estate at Contrada Salmacina in Loreto Aprutino, with vineyards on the Pescara side of the hill and a range published on its own site.
Why locals love it: The family cellar sits at Contrada Salmacina on the Pescara side of the Loreto Aprutino hill, away from the road that carries traffic to the village's better known estates.
Tip: The estate publishes its full range on its own site, which is worth reading before you go so you can ask for the bottlings that never leave the region.
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC, Trebbiano d'Abruzzo DOC, Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo DOCMontepulciano, Trebbiano Abruzzese, Pecorino, Passerina, CococciolaOrtona and the Trabocchi coast
A cooperative at Rocca San Giovanni above the Trabocchi coast, one of the growers that made a varietal case for Cococciola alongside the Montepulciano volume.
Why locals love it: A cooperative above the Trabocchi coast that made the varietal case for Cococciola, a Chieti white grape that barely exists outside this stretch of Abruzzo.
Tip: Cococciola is the reason to stop here. Ask for it alongside the Passerina and the Pecorino to see what separates the three Abruzzo whites.
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC, Trebbiano d'Abruzzo DOC, Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo DOCVastese
A Vasto producer on the Colli Albani hill above the southern Abruzzo coast, working Montepulciano, Trebbiano and Cerasuolo plus ancestral and traditional method sparkling.
Why locals love it: The Vastese, the southern corner towards Molise, has almost no wine tourism, and this Vasto cellar bottles pet nat and traditional method sparkling as well as the regional range.
Tip: Prices at the door start at 8.90 euros for the Classico bottlings and top out around 32 euros, so a full vertical of the range is cheap to assemble.
Controguerra DOC, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC, Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo DOCMontepulciano, Cabernet Sauvignon55 haControguerra
A Controguerra estate at Piane Tronto farming 55 hectares on the Marche border, making around 600,000 bottles a year per DoctorWine across the Controguerra and Abruzzo denominations.
Why locals love it: Controguerra is the one Abruzzo DOC that allows Cabernet and Merlot, and this Piane Tronto estate of 55 hectares works it from the Marche border.
Tip: Ask about the Controguerra DOC itself. Created in 1996, it is the one corner of Abruzzo where international varieties sit inside the denomination.
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC, IGT Colline PescaresiMontepulciano, Trebbiano Abruzzese, Pecorino, Merlot30 haCasauria
A Pietranico estate of about 30 hectares in the Casauria corridor, farming organically and biodynamically, with an art and wellness programme running beside the cellar.
Why locals love it: Pietranico is a hill village almost no visitor route passes, yet the estate farms 30 hectares organically and biodynamically with an art programme attached.
Tip: Ring ahead. The wellness and art side of the estate runs alongside the cellar, so a visit can take most of an afternoon rather than an hour.
