The wines of Abruzzo, Italy, can offer more than just wine for your next wine tasting party. By offering your guests a little history on the legendary wine making region of the wines you feature, you provide more than a great tasting wine. You can complement the taste as your guests can picture the vineyards where the wine originated. The Abruzzo region of Italy has a vivid ancient past, both in history and wine making. This article looks at this region, including Scarpone, one of the most prized wineries of the area, providing some information you can share at your next wine tasting party.

Abruzzo

Abruzzo has its fair share of art and architecture throughout its hill towns and mountain villages, but the Apennine mountains dominate the region, taking up two thirds of the area and attracting hikers and skiers to resorts. The vast Parco Nazionale d’Abruzzo is one of Europe’s most important nature preserves.

Descendants of various hill tribes who settled the region in the Bronze Age, the Abruzzesi were difficult to unite, although the Greeks, Romans, Swabians, Aragonese, and Bourbons all tried. Before the advent of modern transportation, the inhabitants were isolated in hill towns and villages clinging to the sides of mountains. After the 12th Century, the Abruzzesi were ruled by a succession of dynasties based in Naples to the south. As a result, their diet, speech, and customs are more similar to their southern neighbors than to their neighbors to the north or west.

The hills in the region are highly favorable for grapevines. The two classified wines are Trebbiano and Montepulciano, not to be confused with the town of that name in Toscana, where Vino Nobile is made. When grown on the lower hills, Montepulciano has an irresistible character, full bodied and smooth with the capacity to age. In the higher areas, the vines produce a lighter version, Ceraruolo, which is a sturdy, cherry-colored rosé. The white Trebbiano d’Abruzzo has been described as a phantom vine since its origins are unclear. At its best, the wine can develop a Burgundy-like complexity after four or five years of aging.

Scarpone

The small estate of Lorenzo Scarpone is located in Abruzzo in the Colline Teramane zone named after the nearby mountain town of Teramo and thought to produce the finest wine in the Abruzzo region from the native Montepulciano grape. It is the first and only zone in the Aburzzo to be given the Italian government’s highest quality ranking of DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata E Garantita).

Owner Lorenzo Scarpone is well known in the United States among Italian wine lovers for his Italian wine import company, Villa Italia, founded in 1989. Villa Italia’s wines have received outstanding reviews from Italy’s leading wine journal Gambero Rosso, wine club associations, and from Wine spectators, Robert Parker and Stephen Tanzer.

Lorenzo, an active member of the Slow Food Organization, founded the first convivium in the United States in San Francisco where he resides with his family. Born and raised in the same area where his wine estate is located, Lorenzo grows only the native Montepulciano grape. Highly respected Loriano di Sabatino is the winemaker and the wines have gained critical acclaim in the short time that the estate has released them.

The fine wines of Scarpone as well as other wineries within the Abruzzo wine making region of Italy are a favorite of many wine club associations as they produce robust wines with grapes possessing a vivid past that is sure to interest and intrigue your guests.

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Do you love a great bottle of red wine? Aerators can make your next bottle one that you won’t soon forget. These products are designed to take the place of the decanting process, which can sometimes take hours. Within just a few moments, you’ll have a glass full of your favorite red, with all of the character, bouquet, and aroma it’s meant to have. Decanting brings this out as well, but it can take up to three or more hours, for the aeration process to be complete.

Here’s More Information About the Aeration Process

When you use red wine aerators, depending on the style, you will either place it on top of the glass or decanter, or you will hold it above the glass. The vino flows through, and it is introduced to the air. The oxygen weaves through the liquid, releasing its true taste and character. The best part? It only takes a few moments. As soon as the it cascades down the sides and the curve of the glass, it’s ready to enjoy.

There are a few things you need to know about the different styles of red wine aerators. First, the kind that sits on top of the glass is best. Why? Because it allows for one complete breathing system. In other words, the liquid is poured into the aerator. It flows through, grabbing oxygen, and then flows out through the bottom. Through a series of precise holes, it hits the “sweet spot” of the glass. You’ll immediately notice the difference in the bouquet, especially if it is one of your regular bottles.

The taste is less acidic and has a smoother feel on the tongue. The finish is as smooth as ice and you’ll love it all the way to the last drop. For those who truly enjoy this experience, wine aerators are simply a must!

Where to Find One

The internet is a good place to begin your search. However, you’ll want to make sure you choose wisely. Some that are offered today do not aerate properly, which can give a lower impression for all models of this type of product. There is simply nothing better to enjoy with a great meal than a fantastic glass of wine. The best aerators work with reds and whites, but also with older and newer bottles. Isn’t it time you got the most out of your next bottle?

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