Montepulciano
Also known as Violone, Cordisco, Primaticcio.
Montepulciano is a red Italian wine grape most closely associated with Abruzzo, where the majority of its plantings lie, with significant amounts in Puglia and further vineyards across the Marche and Molise. It should not be confused with the Tuscan hill town of Montepulciano, whose Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is made from Sangiovese; the grape and the town share only a name. With more than 30,000 hectares planted, it is one of Italy's most widely grown red varieties.
It gives deeply colored reds, ranging from light and juicy to full-bodied and structured, typically with soft, supple tannins that make the wines approachable young and often excellent value. Aromas center on red and black cherry, plum, and dried herbs. In the Marche it is the backbone of the Conero DOCG and Rosso Conero on the Monte Conero promontory and a principal partner to Sangiovese in Rosso Piceno.