Wines of the Marche:  Sunday, February 20th 5-7

The region of Le Marche (pronounced “lay Markay”), together with Toscana and Umbria, portrays the charm of Central Italy. Le Marche is a beautiful wine region, with miles of untamed coastline, picturesque fishing villages like Portonovo, Renaissance gems like Urbino (where the painter Raphael was born), medieval hamlets, rustic mountain villages and wild expanses of nature that culminate in the splendorous peaks of Monti Sibillini. Located at east centre, it’s the calf of Italy’s boot. From the plains on the Adriatic coast, the territory gently raises with mild hills in the central area, up to the Appennini Mountains.

The best red wines coming from the region are Sangiovese and Montepulciano, the indigenous black grape varietal that reaches its optimum point in the area’s dry maritime climate and limestone-rich soils. The Montepulciano grape is not related to the Tuscan wine region of Montepulciano where Vino Nobile is made, rather is a separate noble varietal. Both Sangiovese and Montepulciano are used by the two most prolific appellations for red wine- Rosso Conero and Rosso Piceno- to make firm, tannic and easily recognizable wines.

Beyond these two up-and-coming regions, most of the wine made in Le Marche is white, with the crisp and fresh Verdicchio varietal being the star. Although Verdicchio had long been seen as a lesser variety, the work being done by local producers are bringing a newfound depth and personality to the region’s most popular white wine.