Region: Abruzzo
History: Established as a DOC in 1972
Vineyard Area: 1,957 ha / 4,834 acres (2014)
Production: 100,400 hl / 1,115,000 cases (2014)
Principal White Grape Varieties: Bombino Bianco, Trebbiano
Styles and Wine Composition: 

WHITE WINES

• Bianco (Wh): Minimum 85% Trebbiano (Abruzzese and/or Toscano) and/or Bombino Bianco (see note below) + OANWG

• Superiore (Bianco)

• Riserva (Bianco)

Significant Production Rules: 

• Maximum vineyard elevation: 500 m (1,640 ft) generally, 600 m (1,970 ft) for vineyards with southern exposure

• Minimum alcohol level: 11.5% for Bianco; 12.0% for Superiore; 12.5% for Riserva

• Aging: For Bianco, minimum approx. 3 months (ERD = January 1, V+1); for Superiore, minimum approx. 5 months (ERD = March 1, V+1); for Riserva, minimum 18 months (ERD = May 1, V+2)

Last Disciplinare Modification: 12/22/2014

Note: It is curious that a denomination named for one grape variety (Trebbiano) allows the possibility of making a varietal wine from a different grape (Bombino Bianco). The reason for this anomaly is that the two varieties, which may or may not be related, have frequently been misidentified for one another and/or thought to be interchangeable. Consequently, many growers have both varieties planted in their Trebbiano vineyards. There are only 12 hectares of declared Bombino Bianco vineyards in Abruzzo, compared with over 9,000 hectares of declared Trebbiano vineyards. The disciplinare simply acknowledges this state of affairs.