Ciccio Zaccagnini was founded in 1978 under the name Fattoria Zaccagnini in the village of Bolognano. Back then, only one thousand bottles of wine per year were produced. A growing reputation led to the need for expansion, and in 1984 the winery moved their operations to Contrada Pozzo in the centre of the Zaccagnini estates.
With over 80 hectares of vineyards they are the pride of the wine-making sector in Abruzzo. They have fertile, sun-drenched vineyards at about 200 metres above sea level, with winds blowing in from the gorges of Popoli. All of these factors combined with the complete lack of humidity and fog, provide the perfect conditions for growing indigenous varieties.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is one of the most widely exported Italian wines, enjoying an excellent reputation for its quality and value. This region does not have the “Hollywood” persona of Tuscany, so here the wines really have to shine and stand on their own feet.
The grapes were hand harvested and after fermentation were matured in French oak barrels for only 8 months. Drinkability and freshness are what this wine is all about, not oak and tannins. It is medium bodied at best, but it has this freshness and great length of palate that make it such a joy to drink. Red Cherries flood the palate and it has this great acidity and freshness that give the wine a lot of structure and weight.