Do we ship to you?.
Also Recommended
Picture
Product Name
Vintage
Price
Varietal
Country
Region
Appellation
Size
Additional Discount
Original Item
2012
$12.10
Montepulciano
Italy
Molise
750ml
24B / $10.46
Better Price
$11.11
Montepulciano
Italy
Abruzzi
Montepulciano D`a...
750ml
12B / $8.55
Similar Price
$12.13
Montepulciano
Italy
Abruzzi
Montepulciano D`a...
750ml
12B / $9.03
Better Price, Better Score
2018
$10.99
Montepulciano
Italy
Abruzzi
Montepulciano D`a...
750ml
More Details
Winery
Valerio
Vintage: 2012
2012 has, so far been a positive year for wineries around the world. While it may be a little too early to speak of the wines being made in the northern hemisphere, European and North American wineries have already begun reporting that their harvesting season has been generally very good, and are predicting to continue with the kind of successes they saw in 2011. However, 2012 has been something of a late year for France, due to unpredictable weather throughout the summer, and the grapes were ripening considerably later than they did in 2011 (which was, admittedly, an exceptionally early year). French wineries are claiming, though, that this could well turn out to be advantageous, as the slow ripening will allow the resulting wines to express more flavour and features of the terroir they are grown in.
The southern hemisphere has seen ideal climatic conditions in most of the key wine producing countries, and Australia and New Zealand particularly had a superb year, in particular with the Bordeaux varietal grapes that grow there and which love the humidity these countries received plenty of. Also enjoying a fantastic year for weather were wineries across Argentina and Chile, with the Mendoza region claiming that 2012 will be one of their best vintages of the past decade. Similar claims are being made across the Chilean wine regions, where Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon had an especially good year. These two grape varietals also produced characterful wines on the coastal regions of South Africa this year.
Varietal: Montepulciano
Montepulciano grapes have been grown in Italy for at least two thousand years, and recent decades have seen vintners in several New World countries experimenting with this particular varietal. Its popularity stems from the fact that it produces high and reliable yields, meaning it is a great grape to grow for those wishing to produce lots of wine at a consistent quality. Indeed, the Montepulciano grape in grown almost all over Italy, as this hardy varietal can thrive in many different climatic conditions. The grapes themselves are renowned for producing wines which are relatively light in body, as the low acidity in the grapes mean that wines made from them are very smooth, soft and drinkable. They usually hold warm, ripe flavors of plum and other autumn fruits, and are often very dark in color
Country: Italy
There are few countries in the world with a viticultural history as long or as illustrious as that claimed by Italy. Grapes were first being grown and cultivated on Italian soil several thousand years ago by the Greeks and the Pheonicians, who named Italy 'Oenotria' – the land of wines – so impressed were they with the climate and the suitability of the soil for wine production. Of course, it was the rise of the Roman Empire which had the most lasting influence on wine production in Italy, and their influence can still be felt today, as much of the riches of the empire came about through their enthusiasm for producing wines and exporting it to neighbouring countries. Since those times, a vast amount of Italian land has remained primarily for vine cultivation, and thousands of wineries can be found throughout the entire length and breadth of this beautiful country, drenched in Mediterranean sunshine and benefiting from the excellent fertile soils found there. Italy remains very much a 'land of wines', and one could not imagine this country, its landscape and culture, without it.