About Masciarelli
Masciarelli is a prominent Abruzzese winery founded by Gianni Masciarelli in 1981, based in San Martino sulla Marrucina in the Chieti province. The estate is one of the largest and most influential producers in Abruzzo, farming vineyards across all four of the region's provinces. It is particularly known for its Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and Trebbiano d'Abruzzo wines, including the highly regarded single-vineyard Villa Gemma range.
Prices are for take away and shipping. The wine bar serves from its own list.
The winery
About Masciarelli
History
Gianni Masciarelli founded the estate in 1981 in San Martino sulla Marrucina, in the province of Chieti, starting from a small family vineyard. As a young man he worked a harvest in Champagne, and the trip changed how he saw Abruzzo. He pruned and trained the vines differently, looked for the oldest and least productive plots, and aged his wines in French barrels, which was unusual in the region.
In 1987 he met Marina Cvetic, who was looking for a cooper for his barrels, and the two married. Gianni died in 2008.
The land and the vineyards
Masciarelli works over sixty separate vineyard parcels spread across all four provinces of Abruzzo: Chieti, Pescara, Teramo and L'Aquila. Sources give very different total sizes, from a few hundred hectares upward, so no single figure is quoted here. The estate also keeps olive groves.
The two grapes that matter are Montepulciano and Trebbiano, with Pecorino and Cerasuolo alongside.
The wines
The top reds and whites carry family names. Villa Gemma is the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva. Marina Cvetic is the Trebbiano d'Abruzzo Riserva. Castello di Semivicoli is an Abruzzo Pecorino, and the Gianni Masciarelli line includes a Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo. The Classic line brings simpler, everyday bottles. La Botte di Gianni is a limited Trebbiano from the 2010 harvest, aged thirty months in a single 700 litre French oak barrel.
The winery has won many Tre Bicchieri awards from Gambero Rosso, and is credited with bringing Abruzzo wine to the world.
Today
Marina Cvetic Masciarelli leads the company with her daughter Miriam Lee Masciarelli, and the winemaker is Attilio Alfino. The estate remains a family business and one of the most recognised names in Abruzzo.
- Founded
- 1981
- Main grapes
- Montepulciano, Trebbiano, Pecorino
- Owners
- Marina Cvetic Masciarelli and Miriam Lee Masciarelli
- Winemaker
- Attilio Alfino