2010 ‘Italia’ Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Italy

About This Wine

“Italia” may be the perfect wine to enjoy with the foods of summer.

Crafted by Claudio Manera and Lelia Burdese at the Adria Vini cooperative in the Piedmont region of Italy, the wine is made from the Montepulciano grape. The variety is noted for its soft tannins, which is why it can be enjoyed in its youth and matches so well with food.

What kind of food? Manera and Burdese highly recommend grilled and barbecued meats — the kind of fare featured at a summertime backyard barbecue. One member of our tasting panel suggests a simple grilled hamburger. Another plans to serve it alongside pasta topped with a rich meat sauce. Pizza would make yet another sublime pairing partner.

Regardless of the fare selected, we suggest chilling the wine for about 20 minutes prior to serving, especially if it’s a hot day. This will help focus the fruit flavors for an unforgettable summertime culinary experience.

About Red Blend

Tasting Notes

• Grape Composition:100% Montepulciano
• Grape Source:Abruzzo Growing Region of East-Central Italy
• Aromas & Flavors:Juniper, Licorice, Cedar, Cherry, Plum, Pepper, Smoke and Meat
• Aging Vessels:Assorted Oak Barrels
• When to Drink:Now Through 2014
• Food Pairing Suggestiona grilled burger, or pepperoni pizza.

Member Ratings

Recipes.

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  Pan Fried Lamb Chops This recipe, which makes 4 servings, features flavors that can be enjoyed with virtually any red wine. Turn it into a complete meal with a side dish jasmine rice. Get The Recipe
  

  Santa Maria Style Beef Grill Since so many wines that we feature come from California's Central Coast, we thought it would be nice to share a uniquely-Central Coast recipe. It makes 6 servings... Get The Recipe
  

  Garlic Chicken Skewers Here's a low-fat recipe that's loaded with flavor. It serves 4, and matches beautifully with Sangiovese or... Get The Recipe
  

  French Lamb Shank Stew With White Beans This recipe, from "The Mauna Loa Macadamia Cooking Treasury," matches wonderfully with Malbec, Merlot Sangiovese or Rhone red blends. It serves 6... Get The Recipe
  

  Tuscan Style Roasted Game Hens If you're looking for a change from turkey or ham this holiday season, try this easy-to-prepare dish that matches well with both white and red wines. It serves 6... Get The Recipe
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  Tomato Pesto Pasta A wonderful match with Cabernet Sauvignon, this recipe helps bring out the fruitful quality of the wine. It also matches nicely with other red wines, and serves 4. Get The Recipe
  

  Garden Tomato Pasta With Wine And Basil Try this tasty recipe with either featured red wine selection with Syrah/Shiraz, Zinfandel or red blends. It makes 8 servings. Get The Recipe
  

  Pinot Noir Sauce Try this flavorful sauce over lamb or prime rib, and serve with Pinot Noir, Malbec or a red blend... Get The Recipe
  

  Turkey Empanadas These tasty turnovers or hot pockets match well with Syrah, Italian red wines, or white wines that have not been over-exposed to oak. This recipe makes 10 empanadas. Get The Recipe
  

  Smoked Salmon Penne Pasta In a world of "anything goes" food-and-wine pairing, we're always on the lookout for recipes that match well with either white or red wines. This is one such recipe, and it makes two servings... Get The Recipe
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  Moroccan Lamb Tangine Try this tasty recipe, which makes 6 servings, with Shiraz or a red blend. MOROCCAN LAMB TANGINE Ingredients... Get The Recipe
  

  Boneless Leg Of Lamb This recipe, developed by the late James Beard, matches beautifully with Shiraz (a.k.a. Syrah), Shiraz/Cabernet blends and Merlot. It serves 6-8... Get The Recipe
  

  Maytag Bleu T Bone Steaks We decided to tap the "Born to Grill" cookbook for this amazingly flavorful recipe for the summer. It serves 4. Get The Recipe
  

  Mustard Crusted Rack Of Lamb Try this tasty recipe, which serves 4 or more, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah or a red blend containing any of the aforementioned varieties... Get The Recipe
  

  Pork Chops With Blueberry Sauce This recipe makes 4 servings, and matches wonderfully with Syrah/Shiraz, Zinfandel, Sangiovese, Merlot and red blends... Get The Recipe
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  Pork Tenderloin With Tart Cherry Port And Caraway Sauce This delicious recipe from Sonoma County's J. Fritz Winery matches beautifully with almost any red wine. It makes 4 to 6 servings. Get The Recipe
  

  Butternut Squash Soup From Executive Chef Linda Kittler of Sonoma County's Valley of the Moon Winery comes this delicious recipe that pairs perfectly with Syrah/Shiraz, as well as various red blends. It serves 10. Get The Recipe
  

  Beef Rib Eye With Sweet Onion Topping This dish pairs beautifully with Syrah (a.k.a. Shiraz), as well as Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and red blends. This recipe makes 4 servings Get The Recipe
  

  Quick And Easy Fagole And Escarole We tried this recipe and loved it - for three reasons: 1. it tastes great; 2. it's good for you; and 3. it matches beautifully with either white or red wine! We suggest serving it with French or Italian bread... Get The Recipe