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La Valentina is a leading example of the modern renaissance of winemaking in Abruzzo. The region has a history as a source of inexpensive bulk wine production, but a new generation of winemakers have dedicated themselves to harnessing the excellent terroir to produce high quality rather than high quantity—and La Valentina is at the forefront of this movement.
Rather than turning to international grape varieties or varieties that are more at home in other regions, the Di Properzio brothers remain true to the traditional varieties associated with Abruzzo: Montepulciano and Trebbiano Abruzzese, along with a time-honored but almost forgotten variety, Pecorino. The shift in focus is not in the grapes but in the way they are grown and vinified.
It all starts with the land, and in addition to vineyards close to the winery, La Valentina has acquired several vineyard sites that are located at higher elevations in the foothills of the Apennines, near a national park in pristine conditions. In all their vineyards, the Di Properzios have made a strong commitment to sustainability—avoiding the use of artificial or chemical products, ensuring maximum biodiversity, and relying on minimal intervention in the land’s natural processes. To this end, all the estate vineyards have been certified organic since 2016.
La Valentina’s winemaking is managed by consulting enologist Luca D’Attoma, who joined the winery team in 1998. The winery’s philosophy is to intervene as little as possible in the natural wine growing processes, adhering to the concept that high-quality wine “has the mark of the vine on its grapes.” By ensuring that the land remains highly fertile and keeping the plants healthy, they are able to fight off parasites and disease on their own and express themselves fully and produce the healthiest possible grapes of the absolute highest quality. The emphasis on sustainability continues in the winery where they use electricity only from renewable sources and practicing water-saving procedures.
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LA VALENTINA TREBBIANO D’ABRUZZO DOC
The white entry in La Valentina’s Classica line is this Trebbiano d’Abruzzo, made from mostly Trebbiano Abruzzese grapes—a superior type of Trebbiano. |
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LOCATIONWINERY: Spoltore (Pescara province), Abruzzo VINEYARD: Pescara province, Abruzzo VIEW IN GOOGLE MAPS REGION DETAILS |
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90
MAY 2020
La Valentina “Spelt” Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva DOC 2016
 Bright red cherry melds with crushed granite and herbs on the nose of this red. The medium-bodied palate is juicy in a vibrant red-cherry flavor, with a line of crunchy tannins and vibrant acidity propping it up. 92
AUGUST 2020
La Valentina Pecorino Colline Pescaresi IGT 2019
 Lemon curd and light green apples with blanched almonds on the nose, following through to a full body with round, savory flavors and hints of salt and minerals. Drink now. 89
JUNE 2021
La Valentina Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC 2020
 The 2020 Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo charms with a delicate display of wild strawberries, nuanced florals and hints of stone dust. It’s a vibrant and juicy effort that fleshes out across the palate with mineral-tinged fruits and savory spice. A buzz of residual acids lingers, forcing the mouth to water, as this tapers off to hard red candies and inner rose tones. The 2020 La Valentina is a spirited Cerasuolo for poolside sipping 89
FEBRUARY 2024
La Valentina “Spelt” Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva DOC 2020
 Dark and tangy, with a lush core of blackberry, mulberry and boysenberry fruit flavors, revealing accents of oolong tea leaf and spiced orange peel. Shows taut, fine tannins that impart a tightly meshed feel, but this is silky and balanced overall, opening nicely on the palate and in the glass. Drink now through 2029. 11,500 cases made, 5,000 cases imported. 90
OCTOBER 2022
La Valentina “Spelt” Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva DOC 2018
The aromatics on the 2018 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva Spelt captivate, expertly mixing crushed cherries with autumnal spice, dried citrus peels and hints of shaved cedar. It takes a turn toward the savory spectrum on the palate, drenching the senses with mineral-tinged, tart red berries and grippy tannins that mount toward the close. A coating of primary concentration further accentuates the wine's structured feel as it finishes long, with hints of blackberries and lavender left behind. The 2018 doesn’t possess the power of the best vintages; however, with a short stay in the cellar, it should drink beautifully for a number of years. 89
APRIL 2021
La Valentina Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC 2018
The 2018 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is incredibly pretty with its display of crushed violets, mint, wild strawberries and wet stone. It’s a soft and fleshy effort that keeps the energy high, as zesty acids usher in a pure display of red and blue fruits. Hints of tannin mix with sweet spices and minerals to create a pleasantly tactile feel, as this tapers off fresh and slightly savory. 90
NOVEMBER 2020
La Valentina “Spelt” Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva DOC 2016
 A selection made from the estate's vineyards, at altitudes ranging from 150 to 400m above sea level, this Riserva was aged in a combination of new and used Slavonian oak barriques, barrels and tonneaux. It has a meaty, mulchy scent of dried fruits and autumnal fruits. In the mouth it is quite sticky and ripe, with some succulence tempered by chalky tannins. There's a streak of red fruit running through the plum and blackberry fruits, bordered by graphite and wood. The acidity keeps things in balance through to the finish. 93
APRIL 2021
La Valentina “Bellovedere” Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Terre dei Vestini Riserva DOC 2016
The 2016 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Bellovedere is dark yet elegant, with an inviting bouquet of blackberries, crushed violets, exotic spice and hints of camphor. This is silky in texture with a savory, almost-salty display of wild berries and minerals, all balanced by brisk acids. You can hardly feel its fine-grained tannins settling in until the very end, as the palate aches under the Bellovedere’s youthful structure, with echoes of licorice and black fruits lingering long. That said, the balance here is on point, and all the 2016 needs is a few more years of cellaring to really shine. |
