Have you noticed? Grenache is making a big comeback!
Here's how to get up to speed
This variety is not taken all that seriously in Italy, but it is set for a superstar role in Australia.
Montepulciano is a red wine grape variety originating in Italy and now being used by a small number of winemakers in Australia. After Sangiovese it is the second most planted variety in Italy.
A widespread and old grape variety often has many synonyms. All of the following are listed in Wikipedia: Cordicso, Cordiscio, Cordisco, Cordisio, Monte Pulciano, Montepulciano Cordesco, Montepulciano di Torre de Passeri, Montepulciano Primatico, Morellone, Premutico, Primaticcio, Primutico, Sangiovese Cardisco, Sangiovese Cordisco, Sangiovetto, Torre dei Passeri, Uva Abruzzese and Uva Abruzzi.
First, let's clear up some confusion about the name.
Montepulciano is the name of both a grape variety and a town in Tuscany. This can cause problems as the wine and the town are not connected.
There is a red wine called Vino Nobile di Montepulciano which is in fact made from the Sangiovese grape variety around the town of Montepulciano in Tuscany.
The grape variety Montepulciano is planted over much of Central and Southern Italy. This variety ripens late in the season and is thus unsuitable for the cooler northern regions of Italy.
Montepulciano the grape variety has its most noteworthy expression is in the wine Montepulciano d'Abruzzi from the mountainous region of Abruzzi on the Adriatic coast of Central Italy. Elsewhere in Central and Southern Italy it is often found in blends but there are many varietal wines as well.
Until a decade ago there were virtually no plantings of Montepulciano in Australia. Sangiovese, Nebbiolo and Barbera were the Italian red wine varieties attracting the most attention from growers and winemakers.
It is quickly emerging as a very suitable variety for warmer Australian areas and is gaining recognition at regional and specialist wine shows.
At the Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show (AAVWS) in 2021 a total of 24 Montepulciano wines were judged. The judges awarded 1 Gold Medals, 1 Silver and 14 Bronze medals. The Gold medal was won by Prometheus.
Our wine merchant partners have a great selection Montepulciano. Make up your own mixed pack
Italian wines made with this variety are often light to medium bodied and are suitable for the Italian standby foods of pizza and pasta, especially with tomato based sauces.
A few Italian wines and many Australian wines are more substantial with firmer tannins. These are more enjoyable paired with heartier meat dishes, game sausages and the like.
Med Red offer. Includes two bottles of each of six wines, different producers, different regions, different alternative varieties and blends. Plus a bonus bottle. All at an affordable price.
Sign up to Darby's Wine Newsletter to receive all the latest news, updates to this site and special offers plus invites to exclusive events.
Cargo Road Wines in the Orange NSW region is a Site Sponsor of Vinodiversity
Hahndorf Hill Winery in the Adelaide Hills is a Site Sponsor of Vinodiversity
Milton Wordley Wine Photographer and Blogger at People of Wine
Order this book about Rare Aussie wines
This book describes the most important wines globally
Detail of the new map of France. Italy and Spain also available
You can use this space to promote your winery or wine based business.
See this page for details
Contact Darby for details.
Tweets by @vinodiversity