Valle Reale seems pre-destined to produce world class wine. Located in the green heart of Abruzzo, its vineyards are situated inside one of Italy’s most beautiful national parks. This is a wild paradise, with deep gorges carved by glaciers, crystal clear springs and a diverse array of flora and fauna. Valle Reale is one of the few wine-producing estates in this area of pristine beauty. The topography and climate of this part of Abruzzo is completely different from the rest of the region and unique within central Italy. The vineyards have thin soils, very rich in limestone with a light base of clay and sand. The proximity to the Gran Sasso mountain range, and the altitude of the estate itself, create wide fluctuations in temperature between day and night. The grapes that are grown here take advantage of constant cool breezes which ensure good ventilation and minimize humidity, ideal for the development of fine aromas. Perfect ripening temperatures are reached only in late fall when the first snow whitens Mount Morrone. The geographic and climatic peculiarities of this area are reflected in the wines, which are characterized by the trademarks of fully mature fruit: fresh elegant perfume and aromatic complexity. Here the Pizzolo family, in close consultation with Prof. Leonardo Valenti and the agronomic faculty of the University of Milan, are working to develop a model for central Italian wines and winemaking. Working primarily with the Montepulciano varietal, they aim to create wines that highlight the grape’s intrinsic qualities: strength, exuberance, vitality, color, elegance, balance and depth. The process begins with the careful selection of clones that are best suited to Valle Reale’s soil and climate, and therefore best express the distinct characteristics of the varietal. Their success is evident in the young, vibrant DOC base wine, and even more so in the cru , a new benchmark for Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.