A refreshingly saline white with notes of lemon rind, sliced pears and chamomile. It’s medium-bodied, lively and delicious. A bright expression of pecorino. Drink now.
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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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91
JUNE 2024
La Valentina Pecorino Colline Pescaresi IGT 2023
![]() A refreshingly saline white with notes of lemon rind, sliced pears and chamomile. It’s medium-bodied, lively and delicious. A bright expression of pecorino. Drink now. 92
NOVEMBER 2022
La Valentina “Bellovedere” Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Terre dei Vestini Riserva DOC 2017
![]() This riserva shows dense aromas and flavors of brandy-soaked black cherries, clove, cinnamon and tobacco. It’s firm in feel, with smooth, polished tannins and tense acidity to lend a solid structure for the rich berry and heady spice flavors to spread out. 91
AUGUST 2022
La Valentina Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC 2020
![]() Aromas of fresh red cherry, earl grey tea and thyme. Medium-bodied with bright acidity. Nicely layered chocolate and dried-herb character atop the bed of black fruit. Generous, with a fresh finish. Drink now. 93
JUNE 2023
La Valentina “Spelt” Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva DOC 2020
![]() Very cedary on the nose at first, so give it a swirl to allow the rich red fruit and floral notes to give you a proper introduction to this full-bodied and solid red. The cedary element is present throughout, but there’s plenty of fruit to counter it. Firm tannins kick in midway and give some astringency to finish, which will smoothen with some more time in bottle. Give it another year, or even two. Try from 2025. 93
APRIL 2020
La Valentina “Bellovedere” Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Terre dei Vestini Riserva DOC 2015
![]() This wine is only made in the best years when the Montepulciano grapes, harvested at the end of October, reach satisfactory ripeness. Then, the La Valentina 2015 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Terre dei Vestini Riserva Bellovedere (with a mere 6,000 bottles produced) sees 18 months of oak aging, producing a balanced and fruit-forward expression. The wine shows the kind of soft ripeness and exuberance that is characteristic of this warm and sunny vintage. Celebrate it with a braised lamb. 93
AUGUST 2023
La Valentina “Bellovedere” Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Terre dei Vestini Riserva DOC 2020
![]() A rich plum and cherry sauce is offset by autumnal spice and a dusting of cocoa as the 2020 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Bellovedere comes to life. It's silky-smooth with a pretty inner sweetness balanced by zesty acidity and tart wild berry fruits as a mineral tinge adds traction toward the close. This tapers off long and staining with grippy tannins, leaving licorice and clove hints. While quite intense and verging on opulent, balance is expertly maintained. 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. 92
SEPTEMBER 2021
La Valentina Pecorino Colline Pescaresi IGT 2020
![]() As always here, there’s a friendly balance of fruity (apple and citrus) and savory (dry mineral and lightly salted almond) elements, which drift down the road together on the medium palate in perfect harmony, supported by exact acidity and the lightest-of-light phenolic framework. Nothing aggressive, just well structured and delicious. From organically grown grapes. Enjoy now. |