The new challenges of the iconic Abruzzo-based Masciarelli winery

Jan 12 2022, 17:14 | by Gambero Rosso
Forty years have passed since that first vintage in 1981 and, if during this time Abruzzo’s wine scene has grown worldwide, is also thanks to the winery founded by Gianni Masciarelli and now run by his wife Marina Cvetic and his daughter Miriam Lee.

It all started with 6 acres, while today the vineyard boasts more than 741 acres spread in the four provinces of Abruzzo, as if to give a glimpse into region’s geographical and pedoclimatic characteristics. They range from the warm and gentle hills of Teramo to the continental climate of Ofena (in the province of L'Aquila), passing through the vineyards of Loreto Aprutino (Pescara's hills), to San Martino sulla Marrucina, in the province of Chieti, where the winery is located. From the Adriatic to the slopes of Gran Sasso, the vineyards make for powerful and modern wines, organized across five different production lines that see their outstanding daily drinkers flanked by ambitious and austere selections. The native grape varieties such as Montepulciano, Trebbiano and Pecorino are in good company with the international ones, which are gaining more and more authority in the company's ampelographic list: Merlot, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, and the new entry Syrah. "We've worked hard on these varieties, experimenting the different terroirs in Abruzzo thanks to the more than 60 parcels of vines we own throughout the region with winemaking, aging techniques and vintages as well, which in some cases favor the international varietals over the local ones" asserts Marina, and continues "everything started with Gianni betting on the region’s great unexpressed potential, that thanks to its species richness, microclimates and environmental niches can offer original interpretations, even of non-indigenous grapes. Still today the winery keeps experimenting and researching. What we are trying to communicate every day with our work is that Abruzzo is a great place both for excellent local and international wines, capable of competing at global level". But once again, the local wines stood out during our tastings. In particular, the white labels made it to our finals in Vini d'Italia 2022, with Trebbiano Castello di Semivicoli that was awarded the Tre Bicchieri: sensations of hay, almond, mown grass mark its bouquet, to which is added a pleasant citrus hint, while dynamic and very fresh on the palate. Very elegant the Pecorino Castello di Semivicoli redolent of citrus peel and green tea, harmonic in the mouth and featuring great drinkability. Multifaceted and of great complexity the Trebbiano Riserva La Botte di Gianni, the last of the tree label with very few bottles produced.

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