Marche (Marche) – region in East Central Italy. Associated mainly with white wines from Trebbiano and Verdicchio.

The territory of Marche is limited by the Apennines to the West and the Adriatic sea in the East. The Apennines separate the Marche from Umbria. Other neighbors are Emilia-Romagna (in the North) and Abruzzo (South).

In Marche there are terroirs, very suitable for viticulture. A vivid example of the coastal hills in the vicinity of Ancona.

Due to the influence of the Apennines, the Adriatic sea and local rivers, in the Marche has developed several microclimates, and winemakers work both in cold and in warm areas of viticulture.

Its contribution to the distinctive terroirs Marche make and soils: carbonate-calcium limestone, clay, – changing together with the topography of the region.

Vineyards occupy about 25,000 hectares and produce almost 2 million HL of wine per year. The main part is sold as table wine (Vino di Tavola) or as Marche IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica).

20% are DOC wines (they are in region 15) and DOCG (4 on the whole region). This is a much smaller proportion than, for example, in Piedmont, with 40% of Doc wines DOCDOCG, but significantly more than in Sicily and Calabria, where the proportion of classified wines DOC does not exceed 5% of the total.

Marche is known as the region’s white wines. But here are a few items of high quality red.

White wine of the Marche

By volumes among white varieties lead the ubiquitous Trebbiano (in different forms) and Verdicchio, for which the Marche region has been native territory for the past 600 years.

The best incarnation of Verdicchio – a wine specialized appellation Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi (Verdicchio Castelli di Jesi) and Verdicchio di Matelica (Verdicchio di Matelica). This white wine with a noticeable greenish tint, very fresh, with lively acidity and subtle herbal nuances in the bouquet. They perfectly accompany the local seafood.

Another remarkable white wine Marche of Bianchello del Metauro (Bianchello del Metauro) from the grapes of biancullo, also known as biancone. Metauro – the name of the river, the valley which gives the grapes for this wine.

Other common white varieties: Pinot Bianco (Pinot Blanc), Malvasia Toscana and Pecorino.

Red wine Marche

The best red wines of the Marche are mostly produced of the varieties Montepulciano and / or Sangiovese. The Duo dominated in Central Italy and here is a very aromatic wine and Rosso Conero Riserva DOCG.

They complement chiledzholo varieties (Ciliegiolo), Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir), Lacrima di Morro (Lacrima di Morro) and to a significant extent, vernacia Nera (Vernaccia Nera), which produce sparkling wine Vernaccia di Serrapetrona DOCG (Vernaccia di Serrapetrona).

The red Marche wine range complement the appellations of Rosso Conero (Rosso Conero DOC, since the status of DOCG this wine can only have in the version riserva) and Rosso Piceno (Rosso Piceno DOC). These powerful, tannic wines make a variety in a sea of white and light red wines.

Other promising pair of appellations is Terreni di Sanseverino (Terreni di Sanseverino) and Lacrima di Morro d’alba (Lacrima di Morro d’alba). The second is a fragrant red wine from the Lacrima variety of autochthonous commune of Morro d’alba. As a rule, make it dry, but there are also sweet versions passito (from dried grapes).

The above appellations spetsializiruyutsya on the wines of a single color. The main part of DOCов region includes both white and red wines. Among them are the wines:

• Offida DOC (Offida), where reigns the variety Pecorino.
• Colli Maceratesi DOC (Colli Maceratesi), especially from varieties maceratino – exclusive of the Marche region.
• Esino DOC (Esino), with its top wines based on the Verdicchio and blends of Sangiovese with Montepulciano.