Perfumed nose of lavender, plums and currants. Some tobacco. It’s full-bodied, creamy and fruity, with slightly rough, grainy tannins, but remains pure and approachable. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
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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
MAY 2024
La Valentina "Docheío" Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC 2021
![]() Perfumed nose of lavender, plums and currants. Some tobacco. It’s full-bodied, creamy and fruity, with slightly rough, grainy tannins, but remains pure and approachable. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. 91
JANUARY 2026
La Valentina “Bellovedere” Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Terre dei Vestini Riserva DOC 2021
![]() Well-oaked and fragrant, with aromatic black licorice, vanilla and marjoram winding through a core of blackberry paste, crème de cassis, olive tapenade and mineral flavors. This sculpted, medium-to full-bodied style opens with air and should show well with time in the cellar. Best after 2027. 90
MAY 2025
La Valentina Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC 2024
![]() Pretty rose tones mix with nuances of wet stone and chamomile as the 2024 Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo opens in the glass. It splashes across the palate with ease, juicy and energetic, with crisp white strawberry and cherry tones. The 2024 shows admirable length and poise, leaving a subtle mineral tinge to linger. 91
NOVEMBER 2024
La Valentina "Docheío" Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC 2021
![]() A damp, cool stoniness defines the nose, which has aromas of blackberries, soil, herbs, crushed rock and pepper. The palate is peppery and earthy, but continuing notes of tart berries provide a cooling balance, creating a delightfully unexpected expression of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. 92
MAY 2025
La Valentina “Spelt” Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva DOC 2022
![]() Dark and brooding, the 2022 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Spelt pulls the taster close to the glass to take in its warming blend of savory herbs, floral underbrush, cedary spice and dried black cherry. Silken and round, this possesses fantastic energy and verve, with vibrant acidity and crisp wild berry fruit tones. It leaves a slight balsamic tinge and an enticing coating of edgy tannins on the close. 93
MAY 2025
La Valentina "Docheío" Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC 2022
![]() Crushed blackberry, sage, citrus zest and stone dust aromas create an enticing bouquet as the expressive 2022 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Docheio blossoms in the glass. This is juicy to the core, with sweet liquid lavender tones and masses of ripe black cherry that flow across a stream of tantalizing acidity. It leaves a gentle concentration of primary fruit and violet inner florals that linger on and on. The amphora-aged 2022 Docheio is a pure and fresh Montepulciano that will win a lot of hearts. 94
JULY 2024
La Valentina "Docheío" Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC 2021
![]() Wild and exotic, the 2021 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Docheio impresses with a vividly fresh blend of wilted violets and dusty rose, incense, lavender pastille and citrus-tinged blackberries. This is cool-toned and racy in style, with soft and enveloping textures and a sensation of liquid stone that paves the way for ripe red and blue fruits. Saline minerality adds a tactile edginess as the 2021 saturates the palate with licorice and spice, tapering off juicy in feel and lightly tannic. Wow, what a wine. The Docheio is a new wine from La Valentina; it's refined entirely in amphora with half of the bunches left intact and the other half destemmed. 89
MAY 2025
La Valentina Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC 2023
![]() Depths of black cherry, lavender, violet pastille and a dusting of cocoa introduce the seductive 2023 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. This is unexpectedly fresh and lifted in style, with tart wild berry fruit elevated by hints of citrus as a sweet herbal resonance emerges toward the close. It's nicely fresh on the finish. |