Montepulciano

Adriatic-coast workhorse; deep color, soft tannin.

Montepulciano is the grape — not to be confused with the Tuscan town Montepulciano, where Sangiovese-based Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is made instead. The grape's home is along Italy's Adriatic coast in Abruzzo and Marche, where it produces deeply colored, fruit-forward, gently tannic reds at affordable prices. Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo is the rosé version. Top sites in Abruzzo's hills produce serious age-worthy bottlings (Emidio Pepe, Valentini); most production remains everyday wine.