Fantini, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Fantini, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Vintage: 2024

VintageProduct CodeFormatClosureAvailability
2024FA407A2412 x 75Agglomerated CorkAvailable
Producer

The Fantini group was founded in 1994 by Valentino Sciotti with the aim of producing top-quality wine from Abruzzo. The enterprise was so successful that the group expanded further south in Italy and its islands. Today, the Fantini group includes Cantina Diomede, Gran Sasso, Vesevo, Vigneti del Salento, Vigneti del Vulture, Tufarello, Zabù and Cantina Atzei, among others. Acclaimed winemaker and consultant Alberto Antonini oversees production, ensuring these wines offer great quality, varietal character and value. Their elegant and striking packaging makes them stand out on the shelf or table.

Fantini is the group’s flagship winery, producing wines from vineyards based in the northern part of Abruzzo, where ripeness and freshness combine in the wines. The forward and accessible Sangiovese is a case in point. All the wines made from Montepulciano have this variety's hallmark colour and intensity but with a balance and accessibility often lacking in wines from this region. The deeply coloured, intense and powerful ‘Edizione’ Cinque Autoctoni is, according to owner Valentino Sciotti, “a true taste of southern Italy”. Blending five indigenous grape varieties, Montepulciano, Primitivo, Sangiovese, Negroamaro and Malvasia Rossa, grown across Abruzzo and Puglia, it is full and powerful yet equally fresh and nicely defined.

Their Cuvée Bianco Brut is a refreshing sparkling wine made from the local variety Cococciola, while the Cuvée Rosato Brut is made with Aglianico from Basilicata. Both come in beautifully designed bottles with a Swarovski crystal on the label. The Calalenta Pecorino is wonderfully balanced, with both a soft texture and vibrant freshness on the finish. The Calalenta Rosato is 100% Merlot and shows fresh aromas of strawberries and pink grapefruit with a refreshing acidity. Grapes for both wines hail from west and southwest-facing vineyards around the town of Ortona, on the Adriatic coast in Abruzzo, planted on calcareous clay soils.

Vineyards

The vineyards are situated around the towns of Ortona, San Salvo and Pollutri on the Adriatic coast of the Abruzzo region. With a south-east exposure, the vines are planted on a mix of clay and limestone soils and trained on both Guyot and Pergola systems.

Vintage

The 2024 vintage in Abruzzo was an excellent one. The season began with periods of intense heat, but careful vineyard management ensured that vine stress was kept under control. Warm conditions persisted throughout the summer, resulting in earlier-than-usual ripening. Although some unseasonal rainfall occurred in August and September, grape quality remained high, with excellent colour development and well-preserved acidity.

Vinification

Upon arrival at the winery, the grapes were carefully destemmed and gently crushed, followed by a four-day cold maceration. Fermentation was carried out in stainless-steel tanks at controlled temperatures of 24–26 °C for 8–10 days. The wine was matured without oak ageing in order to preserve the vibrancy and purity of the fruit.

Tasting Notes & Technical Details

Ruby red in colour with garnet highlights, this wine has an intense, fruity bouquet with aromas of wild berries. The palate is full yet well balanced with lovely ripe dark red fruits and soft tannins.

Alcohol (ABV)

12.5%