Visit the Abruzzo Wine Region: The Complete Guide
Abruzzo is the wild green heart of Italy — a mountainous region where the snow-capped peaks of the Apennines drop almost straight into the Adriatic Sea, leaving a narrow band of hills where the vines grow. It’s one of the country’s most underrated wine regions: three of Italy’s national parks sit here, brown bears still roam the high valleys, and yet the coast is an hour away. For a long time Abruzzo was known only for cheap, cheerful red — but a wave of quality-minded growers has turned it into one of Italy’s best-value discoveries, and it’s the region I most enjoy surprising people with.
The name to know is Montepulciano — not the Tuscan town, but the dark, juicy red grape that makes Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, the region’s flagship wine. Alongside it grow the white Trebbiano d’Abruzzo, the pink Cerasuolo, and a clutch of revived natives like Pecorino and Passerina. With the Winalist team, we work with growers from the Colline Teramane in the north down to the hills of Chieti. In this guide, we’ve gathered everything you need to plan a trip: the appellations, the native grapes, the best wine towns, when to come and how to get around.
- Abruzzo in brief: central Italy, on the Adriatic side, between the Apennine Mountains and the Adriatic Sea. A mountainous region with a long history of wine production and excellent value.
- Star grapes: Montepulciano (the dark red behind Montepulciano d’Abruzzo), Trebbiano (the white Trebbiano d’Abruzzo), plus revived natives Pecorino, Passerina and Cococciola.
- Key appellations: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC, Trebbiano d’Abruzzo DOC, Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo (the rosé), the top Colline Teramane Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOCG, and Controguerra.
- Wine styles: a rich red (Montepulciano), a fresh white (Trebbiano, Pecorino), and one of Italy’s best rosé wines (Cerasuolo).
- Must-sees: the vineyards of the Teramo and Chieti hills, the Gran Sasso mountains, the trabocchi coast, plus Pescara, Sulmona and the hill villages.
- Ideal stay: 4–5 days to combine the wine hills, the mountains and the coast.
- Local table: arrosticini (lamb skewers), maccheroni alla chitarra, pecorino cheese, saffron from Navelli — built for Montepulciano.
- Access: fly to Pescara (or Rome, 2h by road); a car is essential.
- Budget for two: $350–$650 (€320–600) for a comfortable few days — Abruzzo is excellent value.
The wineries and vineyards to visit in Abruzzo
The Abruzzo wine region is the work of large, well-run cooperatives and a growing number of quality-focused family wineries, especially in the hills around Chieti and Teramo. The style is generous and food-friendly: deep, rich red Montepulciano, crisp whites from Trebbiano and the revived Pecorino, and the distinctive Cerasuolo rosé. Many estates farm vines that are indigenous to the region and pair tastings with views of the Apennine mountains and the Adriatic. A wine lover will find remarkable quality for the price here. Most winery visits last 1–2 hours and end with a tasting; expect $12–$35 (€11–32), often with the grower themselves.
The best wine experiences in the Abruzzo wine region: our top 10
Here’s our pick of the must-do wine experiences across Abruzzo — a mix of hillside vineyards, mountain backdrops and the native grapes that make this one of Italy’s best-value wine regions.
1. Taste Montepulciano d’Abruzzo at the source
The region’s flagship: Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, a deep, rich red made from Montepulciano grapes (not to be confused with the Tuscan town of the same name). Juicy, dark-fruited and softly tannic, it’s the everyday red of central Italy — and increasingly serious at the top end.
2. Discover the Colline Teramane DOCG
In the northern hills around Teramo, the Colline Teramane Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is the region’s only DOCG — the pinnacle of Abruzzo red, structured and age-worthy. A must for serious red-wine lovers.
3. Try Cerasuolo, the cherry-pink rosé
Abruzzo makes one of Italy’s great rosé wines: Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo, a deep cherry-pink (its name comes from cerasa, cherry) from the same Montepulciano grape. Fuller and more savoury than most rosés — taste it with the local seafood.
4. Sip Trebbiano and the revived whites
The white Trebbiano d’Abruzzo can be a simple quaffer or, in the right hands, a profound wine. Alongside it, growers have revived characterful native whites — Pecorino, Passerina and Cococciola — well worth seeking out.
💡 Tip: to book a winery visit in Abruzzo with tasting, browse Winalist’s partner estates across the Teramo and Chieti hills.
5. Explore the Chieti hills
The province of Chieti in the south is Abruzzo’s largest wine-producing area, with rolling vineyards (and the Terre di Chieti IGT). A patchwork of cooperatives and family estates makes it ideal for a day of tasting.
6. Combine wine with the Gran Sasso mountains
Few wine regions offer this: from the vineyards you can drive up into the Apennines and the Gran Sasso, Italy’s highest peak south of the Alps. Vines and snow-capped mountains in one day.
7. Visit the trabocchi coast
The Adriatic shore south of Pescara — the Costa dei Trabocchi, named for its old fishing platforms — pairs beautifully with the local wines. Seafood and a glass of Trebbiano or Cerasuolo by the sea.
8. Base yourself in Pescara or Sulmona
Lively Pescara on the coast and historic Sulmona (home of sugared almonds) inland both make good bases for the wine country, with the hills, mountains and sea all close by.
9. Taste with the local food
Abruzzo’s cuisine — arrosticini lamb skewers, maccheroni alla chitarra, pecorino cheese, Navelli saffron — is made for its wines. A tasting paired with a local meal is the heart of the experience.
10. Time your visit for the harvest
The Abruzzo vendemmia runs from September into October, earlier on the coast and later up in the hills. Harvest is the most atmospheric time to taste, with the cellars busy and the vineyards turning gold.
The wine towns and cities to visit in Abruzzo
A few towns anchor an Abruzzo wine trip: Pescara, the lively coastal city and main gateway; Chieti, overlooking the southern wine hills; Teramo, the base for the Colline Teramane DOCG; Sulmona, the historic inland town; and the hill villages of Pacentro, Scanno and Civitella del Tronto. Each deserves its own guide.
When to visit the Abruzzo wine region?
Spring (April–June)
A beautiful time: green hills, wildflowers, snow still on the high peaks, and the coast warming up. Ideal for combining wine, mountains and the sea before the summer crowds.
Summer (July–August)
Hot on the coast and busy with Italian beach-goers, cooler up in the hills and mountains. Taste in the morning, then head to the Adriatic or the Gran Sasso in the afternoon.
Harvest (September–October)
The vendemmia fills the cellars, the vineyards turn gold and the weather is still warm. The most atmospheric time to visit the wineries.
Autumn (October–November)
Mild, golden and quiet, with the mountains at their most dramatic. A lovely, relaxed time to tour the hill estates.
Winter (December–March)
Cold and snowy in the mountains (Abruzzo has ski resorts), milder on the coast. Some small estates reduce hours, but Pescara and the larger wineries stay open year-round.
How to get to the Abruzzo wine region?
By plane
- Pescara (PSR) — the regional airport, on the coast, closest to the wine country
- Rome Fiumicino (FCO) — about 2 hours by road, a common gateway
By train
- Trains link Rome, Pescara and the coastal cities; the Rome–Pescara line crosses the region
- Coastal and main-town stations are well served, but the rural wine estates are not
By car
- Pescara → Chieti hills: 20–30 min
- Pescara → Teramo (Colline Teramane): ~35 mi (55 km), 50 min
- Rome → Pescara: ~125 mi (200 km), 2h
- Pescara → Sulmona: ~45 mi (70 km), 1h
Getting around
- Car: essential — the wine hills, mountains and coast are spread out and the estates are rural.
- Guided tours with driver: many Winalist partners run Montepulciano and Trebbiano wine tours from Pescara, Chieti and Teramo.
- Train + base city: works for the coastal cities, less so for the rural vineyards.
Where to stay in the Abruzzo wine region?
Charm and luxury
- Villa Maiella (Guardiagrele): a renowned restaurant-with-rooms in the Chieti hills.
- Sextantio Albergo Diffuso (Santo Stefano di Sessanio): a celebrated scattered-hotel in a restored medieval village.
- Wine-estate stays and boutique hotels around Teramo and the coast.
Wine-country agriturismi
Across the Teramo and Chieti hills, family-run agriturismi and wine estates welcome guests, often with a tasting of their own Montepulciano or Cerasuolo. Expect $90–$170 (€80–155) per night — an authentic way to stay among the vines.
For a different kind of Abruzzo experience
Mountain lodges in the national parks, restored hill-village stays, and seaside hotels on the trabocchi coast. Plenty of options for trips with family or friends.
Good to know before visiting the Abruzzo wine region
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Where is the Abruzzo wine region in Italy?Abruzzo is in central Italy, on the Adriatic side, between the Apennine Mountains and the Adriatic Sea. Most vineyards lie in the hills of the Teramo, Pescara, Chieti and L'Aquila provinces. Fly to Pescara, or drive about 2 hours from Rome.
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What wine is Abruzzo known for?Abruzzo is famous for Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, a deep, juicy rich red from the Montepulciano grape; the white Trebbiano d'Abruzzo; and Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo, a distinctive cherry-pink rosé. The top reds come from the Colline Teramane DOCG.
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Is Montepulciano d'Abruzzo the same as the town of Montepulciano?No — this is a common confusion. Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is a wine made from Montepulciano grapes in Abruzzo. The town of Montepulciano is in Tuscany and makes a different wine (Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, from Sangiovese). Same name, different places and grapes.
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What grapes are grown in Abruzzo?The main red grape is Montepulciano; the main white is Trebbiano. Abruzzo has also revived characterful native whites — Pecorino, Passerina and Cococciola — and grows some Cabernet and Merlot. The Cerasuolo rosé is also made from Montepulciano.
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What is Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo?Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo is a deep cherry-pink rosé made from the Montepulciano grape — its name comes from cerasa (cherry). Fuller-bodied and more savoury than many rosés, it's a regional speciality and a great match for Abruzzo's seafood and lamb.
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When is the best time to visit Abruzzo for wine?Spring and autumn (April–June, September–October) are ideal — mild, scenic and less crowded than the summer beach season. The harvest in September–October is especially atmospheric.
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How do you get around Abruzzo's wine regions?A car is essential — the wine hills, mountains and coast are spread out and the estates are rural. Fly into Pescara (or drive from Rome), then explore the Teramo and Chieti hills by car, or take a guided wine tour with a driver.
Victoria explores Europe's wine regions to share the finest wine tourism experiences with our travelers. Here she shares her favorite discoveries, tips, and encounters with the winemakers behind every bottle.
Victoria explores Europe's wine regions to share the finest wine tourism experiences with our travelers. Here she shares her favorite discoveries, tips, and encounters with the winemakers behind every bottle.