Montepulciano is a small town within the province of Siena, Tuscany. It is one of the most beautiful towns within the area, known for its place in Renaissance and Middle Ages perfection in culture. It is home to great cuisine and of course, great wine. When you speak of Montepulciano, it is impossible not to speak of wine. The association for every wine lover is simply natural. Montepulciano brings to mind two types of wine, and one which newbies tend to confuse.
The first is that of Tuscan wine, where Nobile di Montepulciano is created, a wine which has delighted our palates for centuries. The second is a wine that goes by a similar name but is located quite a few miles further south on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Here is where Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is produced. A completely different wine from that of Nobile di Montepulciano. The distinction is therefore quite simple. In the former case, when we speak of Nobile di Montepulciano, we speak of the village not the grape. In the latter case, we are talking about the grape variety.
The Tuscan Montepulciano, we are speaking of a geographical region and in the latter, the name of the vine. Having cleared up the differences between Nobile di Montepulciano from Tuscany and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, we can now talk about the differences in wines when drinking them. The Tuscan Nobile di Montepulciano hardly needs an introduction. This wine is a Sangiovese based red wine with excellent structure and fine body. It offers hints of florals such as violet, with hints of red and balsamic fruit.
It is smooth on the palate and is a wine that is generally uncorked on special occasions, especially the Riserva types. It is paired well with large roasts, game and any typical Tuscan dish. Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is a wine which offers softness with high alcohol content. It pairs well with substantial meat-based dishes and is quite complex in aroma. This wine offers notes of berries, jam, peach and even hints of coffee and caramel. Both wines are excellent choices for succulent meat dishes, best paired with local products from their region. As is often said in Italian wine, regional pairing can never go wrong!
The first is that of Tuscan wine, where Nobile di Montepulciano is created, a wine which has delighted our palates for centuries. The second is a wine that goes by a similar name but is located quite a few miles further south on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Here is where Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is produced. A completely different wine from that of Nobile di Montepulciano. The distinction is therefore quite simple. In the former case, when we speak of Nobile di Montepulciano, we speak of the village not the grape. In the latter case, we are talking about the grape variety.
The Tuscan Montepulciano, we are speaking of a geographical region and in the latter, the name of the vine. Having cleared up the differences between Nobile di Montepulciano from Tuscany and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, we can now talk about the differences in wines when drinking them. The Tuscan Nobile di Montepulciano hardly needs an introduction. This wine is a Sangiovese based red wine with excellent structure and fine body. It offers hints of florals such as violet, with hints of red and balsamic fruit.
It is smooth on the palate and is a wine that is generally uncorked on special occasions, especially the Riserva types. It is paired well with large roasts, game and any typical Tuscan dish. Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is a wine which offers softness with high alcohol content. It pairs well with substantial meat-based dishes and is quite complex in aroma. This wine offers notes of berries, jam, peach and even hints of coffee and caramel. Both wines are excellent choices for succulent meat dishes, best paired with local products from their region. As is often said in Italian wine, regional pairing can never go wrong!
