18 expert-endorsed Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo wines to track down

Tradition reinvented

Cerasuolo embodies the most intimate soul and essence of Abruzzo: a wine that represents the mountainous and marine duality of the region.

It is the wine of tradition, the wine of Abruzzo’s yesteryear table, the wine of the family, the wine offered to distinguished guests; and yet, from being a supposedly outdated wine, it has become the new ‘avant-garde’.

The forze e gentile (‘strong and gentle’) Abruzzo region, as journalist and diplomat of the day Primo Levi (1853-1917) described it, is perfectly embodied in Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo’s characteristics: a rosé with the spirit of a red, and/or a light red with the fresh drinkability of a rosé.

It’s a multifaceted wine that can’t be pigeonholed.

Cerasuolo has the rare gift of substance and vigour, characteristics that come from the red Montepulciano grape (minimum 85% in the blend), but in a lighter, more slender and agile form thanks to cold macerations of 8-12 hours during production.

A versatile, highly fruity and very drinkable wine, Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo’s ability to evolve in the bottle is surprising.

Being a rosé with greater structure, it offers plenty of nuance – attractive for consumers who look for wines that are full of expressiveness and invite them to take the next sip.

An everyday wine for all budgets, it corresponds to the contemporary trend for seeking wines that are authentic, work well at the table and are also suited to convivial sharing.

Versatile, approachable and gastronomic, it’s the perfect accompaniment to a wide variety of meals: fish, meat, pasta, cheese, vegetables, or ethnic and fusion cuisine.

Special status

Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo was the first Italian DOC formed exclusively for a rosé wine.

Changes to the production regulations effective as of 2023 now incorporate Superiore versions (minimum 90% Montepulciano) in the sub-zones of four Abruzzo provinces: Colline Teramane to the north, through Colline Pescaresi, to Terre di Chieti in the south and Terre Aquilane inland.

In cooler areas with a larger temperature range – the high hills inland – Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo tends towards a more subtle and incisive profile, greater freshness and modest body.

Contrastingly, the vineyards in warmer areas, often closer to the Adriatic coast, tend to produce more structured and mellow wines with intense, pulpy fruitiness.

The genuine frankness and softness of this grape are expressed both in its austere complexity and its pleasant appeal, reflecting its distinctive and naturally energetic character.

Extremely contemporary and versatile, it’s often much more than a ‘simple’ rosé, and sometimes even indistinguishable from a light red wine.

The name Cerasuolo derives from cerasa, ‘cherry’ in the local dialect, which immediately evokes both its rather intense colour and the particular chewy texture that make it easily recognisable.

Authentic Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo does indeed taste of cherries, and its slightly rustic fruitiness and texture can’t be found in other Italian rosés.

It can be drunk chilled in summer to accentuate its crisp fruitiness, and exemplifies the joy of sharing at the table.

18 distinctive Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo

Related articles