Our online feature this week is the 2018 Torre Zambra Idi di Marzo Family Selection Montepulciano d’Abruzzi (Abruzzi, Italy) – $20.49, regularly $25.99.
In 1910, grandpa Vincenzo set off for Naples in his dogcart. He was going to finalize negotiations for the purchase of a plot of about 20 hectares of land, set around a lookout tower. The land belonged to the Zambra family, and the tower, named after them, was known as “Torre Zambra”. On that parcel grandpa Vincenzo planted his first Montepulciano and Trebbiano vine and grew them for about 30 years, until they were destroyed during the Second World War, leaving the family in poverty.
During the War Laurentino De Cerchio, Vincenzo’s son-in-law, was captured by the Nazi army and imprisoned in Germany; he succeeded in returning to Villamagna only in 1947. Back to the small village he took over the farm and began his constant activity of wine grower, re-planting the old vines destroyed and starting to build the winery. And that’s how, in 1961, the first “Torre Zambra” harvest was bottled.
Being one of the most historic Abruzzo wineries that puts great value on the native vines, such as Montepulciano, Pecorino, Passerina and Trebbiano. This great little Montepulciano carries all the varietal typicality we love about Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. Deep black colour, with ruby glints. The nose is intense, with wild berriesaromas and notes of tobacco, coffee, black pepper and cocoa powder on the finish. This is a complex, supple and round red to be enjoyed as an everyday drinker.