Molise, the second smallest region in Italy, is steeped in a rich viticultural tradition, producing an array of exquisite wines for all palates. This verdant, rolling region, located in the country’s South-central part, is one of Italy’s hidden gems that is beginning to garner the global attention it rightly deserves in the wine industry.
This charming and comparatively unspoiled region is teeming with vineyards growing on a combination of mountains, hills, and coastal plains. Primarily known for its red and rosé wines, the region offers an array of grape varieties. Molise is, in particular, renowned for its cultivation of the Montepulciano vintage, one of the most widely recognised red wine grapes in the Sangiovese family.
Among the full-bodied reds, Biferno and Pentro are two of the most popular DOCs (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) produced in Molise. These wines come with a delightful complexity and a range of expressive flavours from cherry to peppery spice. Tintilia, an exclusive Molise grape, is noteworthy for its intense garnet hue and its unique bouquet of ripe red fruit, spices, and leather.
White wines in Molise are less common, but still delicious in their own right. The Falanghina, Trebbiano and Greco varieties prove a vibrant counterpoint to the region's reds, and promise a delicate aromatic hint of tropical and citrus fruits. Each glass of Molise wine is an organic reflection of the region's deeply-rooted heritage, ethereal landscapes, and agrarian culture.
Though lesser-known compared to its illustrious neighbours, Molise’s winemaking scene is rich in authenticity and quality, offering a sincere reflection of the region’s unique terroir. A visit to this rustic coastal expanse promises not only a taste of elegant, sun-soaked wines, but a chance to experience a slice of less-trodden Italy, unblemished by the touch of mass tourism. In this intimate pocket of old-world Italy, every sip is, undoubtedly, a taste of history and tradition.
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