Torre dei Beati Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

When setting up a winery, the name might be one of the hardest decisions and take a lot of thought. Adriana Galasso and Fausto Albanesi were inspired by the Torre dei Beati (Tower of the Blessed), a symbol found in the church of Santa Maria in Piano, in Loreto Apruntino, in Abruzzo (central Italy). This image, captured in a 15th century fresco, depicts the final goal that souls strive to gain access to after much effort and significant trials.

Using this comparison, you can imagine how much work, sacrifice and commitment the couple put into taking care of Adriana’s father Rocco’s vineyards. After converting the entire vineyard to organic (which was the first thing they did), in 2000 they made their debut with Torre dei Beati Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, a red made with Montepulciano (the typical local variety) and part of the D.O.C. Montepulciano d'Abruzzo.

The first thing this couple did when they arrived was to convert the 21 hectares of vineyards to organic. These vines, which were planted in 1972, grow at an altitude of 250-300 metres above sea level and facing different directions. The most significant characteristic is the pergola training system, which is typical of the oldest vineyards. The location, 25 kilometres from the Adriatic and close to the mountains, means that during the day the air coming from the sea is temperate, while at night the air is cooled by the cold pockets coming down from the mountains (which are already snow-covered in September).

The grapes are selected and harvested in 20 kilo boxes, and then taken directly to the winery built in an old farmhouse located in the centre of the vineyard and equipped with the most advanced technology. This means there is little risk of oxidation and it guarantees the grapes used to produce Torre dei Beati Montepulciano d'Abruzzo will be in the best condition to produce a high quality wine with minimal use of preservatives. Following fermentation in stainless steel tanks, Torre dei Beati Montepulciano d'Abruzzo spends 15-18 months aging in used French oak barrels, where the wine will stabilise on its own, giving it space and time.