Winemaker Notes
Quattro Mani made its debut in 2006 with Montepulciano d’Abruzzo made by acclaimed winemaker Attilio Pagli. Quattro Mani [toh-kai], produced by the skilled hands of Movia’s Aleš Kristancic, followed in 2008. Tocai grapes are grown in Movia’s organically farmed Exto Gredic vineyard; the wine is made at the Movia winery in accordance with the biodynamic principles. Franciacorta, produced by the celebrated Franciacorta pioneer Emanuele Rabotti, joined the lineup in 2010. In 2011, Quattro Mani Barbera which is produced by the skilled winemaker Danilo Drocco who has been described as "One of the Great Names of Piedmontese Winemaking" by Robert Parker was launched.
A warm, Mediterranean vine-growing paradise, in Abruzzo, the distance from mountains to seaside is relatively short. The Apenniness, which run through the center of Italy, rise up on its western side while the Adriatic Sea defines its eastern border.
Wine composition tends to two varieties: Abruzzo’s red grape, Montepulciano and its white, Trebbiano. Montepulciano d’Abruzzo can come in a quaffable, rustic and fruity style that generally drinks best young. It is also capable of making a more serious style, where oak aging tames its purely wild fruit.
Trebbiano in Abruzzo also comes in a couple of varieties. Trebbiano Toscana makes a simple and fruity white. However when meticulously tended, the specific Trebbiano d’Abruzzo-based white wines can be complex and long-lived.
In the region’s efforts to focus on better sites and lower yields, vine acreage has decreased in recent years while quality has increased.
Montepulciano is the second most planted red variety in Italy after Sangiovese, though it is achieves its highest potential in the region of Abruzzo. Consistently enticing and enjoyable, Montepulciano enjoys great popularity throughout central and southern Italy as well. A tiny bit grows with success in California, Argentina and Australia. Somm Secret—Montepulciano is also the name of a village in Tuscany where, confusingly, they don’t grow the Montepulciano grape at all! Sangiovese shines in yet another Tuscan village, here making the reputable wine called Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.