Molise

• Total vineyard area:

  6,400 hectares (74% red wines, 26% white wines)

• Number of producers:

  4,000

• Total wine production per year:

  319,000 hectolitres

• Number of DOCGs:

  0

• Number of DOCs:

  3

The history of this region seems to have started with the Samnites, an Italic population that occupied this land before the Romans. Local museums display archeological records of wine on vases and coins, which confirms that wine was widely consumed by the Samnites tribe. Once the Romans conquered the area, wine productions flourished thanks to their advanced techniques and a high demand for consumption.

In the 20th century, Molise’s land was largely devastated during the first and second world wars, forcing most of its inhabitants to flee abroad (largely to America and Australia) or to other Italian regions. Since then, Molise’s wine industry is still searching for its own identity, often overshadowed by the adjacent regions of Abruzzo and Puglia. Large improvements have been made in the last 20 years, with promising developments across the local wine producers.

Molise viticulture has modernised its wine technology in recent years. Biferno and Tintilia DOC wines are of particular quality and are home to many of Molise’s emerging producers. Ancient and traditional farming systems are still widespread in Molise, but they are gradually being replaced with systems more suitable for mechanised viticulture.

• Borgo di Colloredo

  Brothers Enrico and Pasquale Di Giulio represent the third generation of passionate winemakers. Enrico is an oenologist while Pasquale is an agronomist technician. Here they cultivate a plethora of high-quality wines: Montepulciano, Aglianico, Greco, Trebbiano, Malvasia, and Falanghina.

• Cantine Salvatore

  The winery is located in Ururi, a small town on the hills of the lower Molise. The land spreads across 20 hectares of vineyards, as well as olive groves and large portions of arable land. Catine Salvatore’s red wines have had several mentions in the top wine guides of the country, such as Bibenda. Their Tintilia del Molise is worth a special mention.

• Claudio Cipressi

  Located in San Felice del Molise, Claudio Cipressi was officially certified organic in 2014. The vineyards are cultivated at 600 meters and grapes are hand-picked. Their Tintilia del Molise is the crown jewel of this winery’s production, a must-try for all visitors! The vineyards are cultivated at 600 meters, where the grapes are hand-picked. The various Tintilia del Molise bottles are the crown jewel of this winery’s production, a must-try for all visitors!

• Falanghina:

  Delicate on the nose but with a very charismatic and fresh palate.

• Fiano:

  Dry and harmonic with an intense yellow colour.

• Bombino Bianco:

  Made from the Bombino grape, this light-bodied wine has a soft and fruity flavour.

• Greco Bianco:

  Among the finest wines in the region, it is made with at least 85% Greco grapes.

• Aglianico:

  Vinous on the nose and intense on the palate. Dry, harmonious and subtle.

• Pentro d’Isernia:

  Containing at least 75% of Montepulciano grapes this wine has a characteristic aroma.

• Tintilia:

  A native grape variety with small berries. Warm, herbaceous, fruity and tannic.

• Biferno rosso:

  Biferno wines resemble Pentro di Isernia but have lower acidity and greater structure.

• Montepulciano:

  Vinous, fruity, tannic with a very intense ruby red color.