This is demonstrated by the growth in quality, the interest of critics and the market and the successes achieved every year in national and international competitions and is due above all to a strong enhancement of the territory and its most important autochthonous grape varieties, and to a new generation of oenologists and winemakers.

With 36,000 hectares of vineyards and an annual production of 3.8 million hectolitres, wine growing today is undoubtedly the most important sector in the context of regional agricultural production.

The production of designation of origin wines reaches one million hectolitres, of which:

more than 800,000 of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
192,000 of Trebbiano d’Abruzzo
4 thousand for DOCControguerra
4 thousand for Montepulciano d’Abruzzo “Colline Teramane” which since the 2003 harvest flaunts the DOCG label.

The production areas are mainly concentrated in the hilly parts of the region, especially in the Chieti area where 75% of winegrowing is located, followed by Pescara and Teramo with about 10% each and finally L’Aquila with less than 4%.

Three quarters of total wine production comes from 40 cooperative wineries (32 active in the province of Chieti) which, together with private wineries, make up 160 processing companies, 120 of which bottle with their own labels. In 2004, output exceeded 100 million bottles.

The most widespread form of grape growing in Abruzzo is the Abruzzo pergola, which represents more than 80% of the regional vineyards, while in the case of new plants and replanting, the row shape (spurred cordon, free cordon, gdc) prevails in most cases.

In addition to the national market, the main reference markets for Abruzzo wines are: Germany (23%), United States (20%) and Canada (10%). The British market and the markets of Northern European countries such as Sweden, Denmark and Norway are growing strongly, thanks to the good value for money of our products.