Masciarelli (Mass-shee-ah-RELL-ee) Winery is located in the Abruzzo region of Italy on the eastern coast, just east of Rome on the Adriatic Sea. It was established in 1981 from the entrepreneurial intuition of Gianni Masciarelli. Today, Miriam Masciarelli (Gianni’s daughter) works with her mother, Marina Cvetić Masciarelli, to run this fabulous family winery that now has 22 labels and seven product lines all sourced from 60 vineyards in all four provinces of Abruzzo. One of their product lines, Villa Gemma, honors the modest family home where Gianni Masciarelli was born.

2018 Villa Gemma Montepulciano D’Abruzzo Riserva ($98)

The grapes for this wine come from the original 12-acre Colle Cave home vineyard dating back to 1930 that is located above and behind the family home in Chieti. Today’s vines are around 30 years old and planted in dense guyot rows to limit yield. They only produce this wine in the best years.

This Masciarelli Villa Gemma Montepulciano D’Abruzzo Riserva is produced from 100% Montepulciano grapes that are fermented in stainless steel. The wine is then aged in French oak barrels for five to six year before being bottled.

This wine is deep ruby in color with a medium nose of rich red fruit. On the palate, this full-bodied wine has rich and complex flavors that include red fruits, dried fruit, pepper and cocoa. It finishes with rich fruit flavors.

Abruzzo is now among the fastest growing regional economies in Italy and Southern Italy’s single most prosperous region. They are also producing some amazing wines. Check out all of Masciarelli’s wines on their website. And, when you can find this wine, splurge! This wonderful Villa Gemma Montepulciano D’Abruzzo Riserva is this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Sample Provided by Masciarelli Winery