Villa Barcaroli

certified Organic, Vegan

abruzzo- the region

Located just south of Le Marche on the Adriatic side of the Italian peninsula, Abruzzo has long been considered the gateway to Southern Italy. More Southern than Central in its vibe, its climate and its history, the region is also the most conserved in Europe- over half of the region is protected as a national park or nature preserve, and Abruzzo is home to fully 75% of Continental Europe’s land-dwelling animal species.

The region’s history dates to the Neolithic, and it was well settled by the time the Romans incorporated it into their growing Republic. With the fall of Rome nearly a thousand years later, the region passed under the control of the Lombards, then the Byzantines. From the 9th to 12th centuries, the region was appended to the Papal States straddling central Italy. Shortly after that it was incorporated into the Norman Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. That Kingdom passed into Bourbon hands in the 1700’s and it remained part of the Kingdom until acceding to the new Kingdom of Italy during the Risorgimento, in 1860. Straddling the German Gustav Line, the region saw intense fighting during World War II, and is today a major tourist site for those interested in military history as well as those looking to visit its many beautiful medieval hilltowns and fortresses.

Abruzzo: The Terroir

The region has a fully Mediterranean climate along the coast, with palm-fronded beaches lining the Adriatic. Inland the land climbs steeply to a high plateau and then to the spine of the Apennines, including the Gran Sasso, at 9554 ft elevation, the highest peak in the Apennines. Vegetation runs from Mediterranean to subalpine. The region’s soils are largely limestone/marl based, and as always in the Apennines, deeper and loamier in the valleys.

The Gran Sasso, highest peak in the Apennines

The Wines

Villa Barcaroli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo “Hercules”: This is a classic Montepulciano, vinified in stainless to preserve the bright fruit flavors. Mid-weight and spicy, built around the acidity with very fine-grained tannins. 6 months fermentation and ageing prior to bottling, then another 3 in bottle to rest. Bright red fruit, lightly peppery spice, perfect pizza/pasta wine.

the fortress of Roccascalegna, 15-16th centuries.

villa barcaroli

Dating to the 17th century, the villa has been owned for over fifty years by the Bartolomei family, who have preserved the villa and its vineyards, as well as a cellar of great Montepulciano d’Abruzzo dating back to 1954.

Today the Villa is a major force in the Abruzzese wine scene, known for blending tradition with innovation. All wines produced on the estate are organic, and are classics of Abruzzo wine.

The die-cut circles represent the constellation Hercules, a reference to the Villa’s holistic approach to organic/bio winemaking.

Villa Barcaroli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva “Draco”: From organically-farmed vines at about 850 ft elevation on thin limestone soils. Fermented and then aged in stainless for 6 months, followed by aging in oak barriques for 18 months. Bright clean ripe berry fruit. Lush and powerful, very velvety and elegant. Label pattern is the constellation Draco.