Marche

Another region of central Italy whose wines have been gaining more recognition in recent years. A large part of Marche is made up of a mountain range, the Apennines, which gradually descend to the Adriatic Sea. The north of Marche is cooler and rainier, while the south has more of a Mediterranean character. South and west of Ancona are the two most important wine regions with DOCG appellation, Conero and Castelli di Jesi, where the prized local varieties Verdicchio and Montepulciano are grown. Verdicchio is considered by many wine experts to be the most valuable white Italian indigenous variety. In the Castelli di Jesi area, it gives rise to complex, aromatic, and structured wines, while Verdicchio from the Matelica area is pleasantly fresh and slightly bitter. In the Conero area, with its limestone soil and significant maritime influence, the Montepulciano variety thrives, producing full-bodied, robust wines.