Popoli lies at the crossroads between the Conca Peligna, the Tirino Valley and the Pescara Valley, in a landscape characterised by the Popoli Gorges and the proximity of the Apennine hills. This location defines an inland wine-growing environment, characterised by marked temperature variations between day and night, good ventilation and a level of sunlight conducive to the slow and steady ripening of the grapes. The soils of the basin, formed from fluvial, lacustrine and detrital sediments, alternate between clayey, gravelly and calcareous components, offering varying conditions depending on the aspect, altitude and location of the vineyards.
Local tradition is rooted in the long history of winemaking in the Peligna Valley and finds its clearest expression today in the Casauria or Terre di Casauria sub-zone of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, which also extends into the territory of Popoli. Montepulciano is complemented by rosé wines such as Cerasuolo and white wines made from regional grape varieties such as Trebbiano d’Abruzzo and Pecorino. The red wines display structure, intensity and a tannic profile well-supported by the cool climate; the rosé versions highlight fragrance and vibrancy. Cultivation continues to draw on the traditional Abruzzese pergola system, alongside modern row-trained vines, whilst winemaking combines stainless steel ageing with longer maturation periods, including in wood, to enhance the wines’ identity and depth.
