Marche (Central Italian Wine Region)

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This post contains information about different wine regions in the Marche (pronounced: Mark-e) region in central Italy. The region has a mix of red and white grapes with a small focus on the latter. 

For more information about North/Central Italian White Wines please check out this page that also contains a similar map to the one above.

At our tasting we have had several favourites that has been from the Marche region. Please check out our “Best wine” to see some of the past winners in different wine categories.

Introduction

The Marche region has its capital in Ancona where the Rosso Conero and Conera Riserva has the DOC and DOCG. The area is near Rimini and San Marino and what is significant here is how the seafood cuisine influences the wines produced here. Pecorino is made as well as trebbiano put perhaps most particular is the use of the Verdicchio grape as it is almost exclusively grown here.

Verdicchio from Matelica and Castelli di Jesi

These two regions are famous for its verdicchio grape. Verdicchio is indigenous to Italy and it takes its name from “verde” which means green.  It is usually a still wine but it can also produce sparkling wine and straw wine. This is an age worthy wine but can also be had young and its characteristics is usually that they are quite crisp and citric.  At Verdicchio di Matelica it requires to have its wine with a minimum of 85% Verdicchio content. The Jesi zone is more elevated than Verdicchio de Matelica and gets more open to the influences of the sea nearby.

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Falerio

This wine region was granted as DOC in 1975 and its names comes from the roman town Faleria that is now called Falerone and the wine and cuisine is influenced by the consumption of fish in the area, mainly Falerio is a good wine to enhance the bluefish and whitefish from the Adriatic Sea popular in the area. Here the trebbiano, passerina and pecorino are the main grapes.

Vernaccia di Serrapetrona DOCG

The zone got its DOCG status in 2003 and is one of the smallest zones in Italy. Here they porudce red sparkling wine produced by the Vernaccia Nera-grape which is Grenache/Garnacha by DNA testing and this wine have been mentioned in Dante’s poem Divine Comedy. For this wine they are doing a triple fermantation with the Charmat method. The result is a intensely aromatic wine, both sweet, semi-sweet althought here are also dry versions (secco) with aromas of strawberries and cranberries. In terms of size we are talking about only 21 hectares and output is around 9000 cases so you are not likely to find it at your local tescos!

Rosso Piceno

Became a DOC in 1968 and mainly produces wine with montepulciano and sangiovese grapes. The classification of a Rosso has to have 35-85% montepulciano with 15-50% sangiovese. To be able to use the label “Sangiovese” it has to be minimum 85%. The Novello wine is similar to beajaulais with a lighter young wine with relatively low alcohol while the “Superiore” has to have 12% minimum and aged at least one year. In terms of flavour it often have dark cherries, plums and violets and not too strong tannins. Yearly production – 597 900 cases, 900 hectares.

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Lacrima di Morro d’Alba

Lacrima di Morro d’Alba is its DOC where they still sparkling red wine based on the Lacrima-grape. Wines made from this grape is low in tannins and is best to drink young. Lacrima usually is quie dark and have a softer taste with strong aromatics, often of spices and floral notes.

Rosso Conero

Ancona is the capital of the Marché region and If you are visiting the region you most likely will land in Ancona (airport link). These wines must be made of at least 85% montepulciano and is sometimes blended out with sangiovese. The characteristics of these wines are often powerful full-body reds with a concentrated colours and noticeable tannins. You will find intense aromas and flavours of black cherries and herbs.

Colli Pesarei

Pesaro in the northern part of the Marché region next to San Marino and Rimini is the main city where they produce white, red and rosé wine. The main grapes are trebbiano, sangiovese and the less famous white grape  biancame but also Pinot Nero (noir) and there are both varietal and blends here.

Offida DOCG

Here the white grapes are most famous but also red is produced. The total production is 188 000 cases (2017) and 36 ha land (2017) For a wine to be called Pecorino in the Offida DOCG it needs to hvae at least 85% pecorina and same principle applies to Passerina and minimum alcohol level has to be 13% for Rosso, 12% for Passerina and 11.5% for Pecorino. For agening it has to be minimum 24% ageing with 12 months in barrel and 3 months in bottle. For the reds it is minimum 85% montepulciano.

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Wine Recommendations

 

So far the Marche-region have not only have one but three blind tasting winners in our events.

 

2024.03.09 – Marche Wine (white, rose and red)

This Offida DOCG was made by Cabernet Sauvignon and montepulciano. The ripe black fruit combined with the oak influence created a well-rounded and pronounced flavours that was well received.

 

Rose wine tasting

 

Mun – Winner of the rose wine tasting

We have had an rosé tasting and the winners of 4 wines was from the Marche-region that you can find more information here with the La Cacinara, Mun Rose made by 100% montepulciano . For more wine recommendations check out our best wine-section

 

Italian Red Wine Winner

This wine from Piceno won a wine tasting featuring a range of red Italian wines.

 

Winner of an italian red wine tasting (best of 4).