Italian cuisine doesn’t just encompass the types of food served! Those who know Italian cuisine well know there is much more to it than meets the eye. It encompasses all of the different parts of the meal, including desserts, appetizers, and wine! Italian wine is famous for its superior quality and outstanding flavor, and Montepulciano wine is no exception to the rule. However, this type of wine doesn’t refer to one particular bottle. If you’re curious to know more about Montepulciano wine, we’ll satisfy your curiosity below!
Defining Montepulciano
If you’ve read any of our food or wine-based blogs in the past, you’ll notice that specific foods tend to follow a certain theme. They get named after the region of Italy that they come from. Montepulciano is one of those wines that break from the norm! The word actually refers to the type of grape used, which is native to Italy and one of the country’s most popular grapes to grow. They grow all throughout Italy, from the Adriatic coast to the Amalfi coast and everything in between.
Characteristics of Montepulciano Grapes
There’s a reason why Montepulciano grapes are among the most popular in Italy – the quality of the grapes is unmatched! To be more specific, Montepulciano grapes become ripe much later than other types of grapes, which allows them to develop a nice texture and structure that is comparable to other well-known wines. You can expect a Montepulciano wine to have hints of black cherry and boysenberry, which help to make the wine sweeter. These types of wine are good to pair with Italian foods and pizzas.
What Kinds of Montepulciano Wine Are There?
If you’ve looked at the Bricco wine and cocktail menu before, you’ll likely have noticed several different types of Montepulciano wine. There are a few main types of wine that can be made with Montepulciano grapes, including:
- Montepulciano d’Abruzzo: This kind of wine should be easy to spot on our menu – we carry four different variations of it! This type of wine blends the Montepulciano grapes with other indigenous grapes to create an authentic Italian final product.
- Riserva: Some Italian wines have stricter definitions, and Riserva falls into this category. This type of wine must be aged for at least 3 years before it can officially be labeled as such.
- Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo: The name of this wine makes it sound a lot fancier than it is! Simply put, this wine is a rose made with Montepulciano grapes.
Montepulciano Wine at Bricco
If you’re looking for the most delicious parts of all courses of an Italian meal, you’ll find them in spades at Bricco! Montepulciano wine is among one of the many delicious Italian wines on our menu. If you want to experience what makes this wine so noteworthy for yourself, make a reservation with us today!