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Cataldi Madonna

Ofena · L'Aquila (AQ)
← Abruzzo
Established
1920
The Cataldi Madonna family (estate-bottling from 1975; long led by Luigi Cataldi Madonna)
Yearly production
Location
Ofena
L'Aquila (AQ) · Abruzzo
Vineyard area
Around 30 hectares at Ofena, the 'oven of Abruzzo', a sun-trap amphitheatre at the foot of the Gran Sasso cooled by mountain air, giving big day-night temperature swings; planted to Montepulciano, Trebbiano and Pecorino.

Appellations

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOCCerasuolo d'Abruzzo DOCAbruzzo DOCTrebbiano d'Abruzzo DOC

History

Cataldi Madonna, at Ofena in the mountainous heart of Abruzzo, is one of the region's quality pioneers. Led for decades by Luigi Cataldi Madonna, a professor of philosophy at L'Aquila, it helped drive Abruzzo's modern renaissance and was, according to grape expert Ian d'Agata, the first estate in Italy to print 'Pecorino' on a label, with the 1996 vintage. From the hot 'oven' amphitheatre below the Gran Sasso it makes structured Montepulciano, deeply coloured Cerasuolo rosé and crisp Pecorino.

Wines

Illustrative selection
Pecorino
Abruzzo DOC
Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo
Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo DOC
Tonì Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC
Malandrino Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC
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Grapes of these appellations

Who else makes these wines

Producers near Ofena