2003 Ciu Ciu Oppidum Rosso

Marche, or Le Marche as it is called in Italy, is on the Adriatic coast above Abruzzo and below Emilia-Romagna. A tiny northwest corner of Le Marche shares a border with Tuscany. As a wine producer, Le Marche is best known for its white wine made from the Verdicchio grape, which is thought to be native to the area. Plant scientists think Verdicchio is related to Trebbiano and Greco, and Verdicchio wine is noted for its almond and green fruit scent, and its very high acidity. Red wines are also produced, though in smaller quantities. The most distinctive red grape is Lacrima, which is often compared to Beaujolais because of its fruity quality. Montepulciano and Sangiovese are also grown, along with other reds. There are twelve DOCs, including Verdicchio dei Castelli Jesi and Verdicchio di Matelica, which are the best known and most complimented Verdicchio DOCs. The Rosso Cònero DOC is arguably the most-admired DOC for reds. With 61,000 acres of vineyards, Le March is Italy’s twelfth largest wine appellation by size.