Masciarelli

Through tremendous vision and endless innovation, Masciarelli has not only become one of the most admired wineries in Italy, but is often regarded as the standard-bearer of the Abruzzo region. Founded in 1981 with only two hectares under vine, Gianni Masciarelli established rigorous quality-focused vineyard practices at a time when Abruzzo lacked direction as a wine region, taking his cues from Burgundy and Champagne and translating them to the varied terroirs of his home.

After years of continued experimentation with vineyard selection, reducing yields, working sustainably, and extended barrel aging, Masciarelli received due recognition as a groundbreaking and iconic winery in 2000, when the Villa Gemma Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 1995 was awarded “Best Wine in Italy” by Gambero Rosso (the first Montepulciano to ever receive this distinction). To the Masciarelli family, however, this was only the first step to bringing Abruzzo to the world stage, where this up-and-coming variety was destined to take the spotlight for years to come.

Today, the winery is led by Marina Cvetić, who took over responsibilities after her husband (and business partner) Gianni’s untimely passing in 2008.  Marina is joined by daughter Miriam Lee Masciarelli, together serving as enthusiastic ambassadors to the Abruzzo region; their eagerness to share the context of these unique  wines amidst the extraordinary panoramic backdrop of mountains, valleys and sea is undoubtedly contagious.

The dedicated team at Masciarelli continues to honor Gianni’s vision and obsession with quality. Even as demand for production soars, they still insist that all wines (including their widely available “Linea Classica” Montepulciano, Trebbiano and Rosato) come from 100% estate-owned vineyards, many of which are among the most coveted sites in the region. Today, Masciarelli is the only producer in Abruzzo to own land in all four provinces (Chieti, Pescara, Teramo and l’Aquila).

As a testament to Masciarelli’s continued pursuit of higher standards, a plaque at the winery serves as a constant reminder:

“The search for quality is not a single action that can be remembered once a week or once a month, it is a constant thought we wake up with each morning and fall asleep with each evening.” – Gianni Masciarelli

Learn more here.