Garofoli Piancarda Rosso Conero 2018

The Conero region in Marche has winemaking roots tracing back to the 10th Century B.C. and the Etruscan period. Though Abruzzo gets much of the credit for Montepulciano, it is this staple in Northern Italy known for its chalky, limestone soils as well as birthing the famous winemaker, Cesare Mondavi, who made the most expressive and interesting versions of the native Italian grape.

Picking up where the great Mondavi left off, there are several wineries in the region that help pace this gorgeous wine region. One of those for the last 100+ years has been the Garofoli family,

Gianluca is the latest Garofoli in a long and proud line to lead the show at his family’s winery. He makes some beautiful white wines and Reds from Verdicchio to Montepulciano. I love this expression of Montepulciano because the vineyard benefits greatly from the ocean giving the wine a gorgeous natural salinity. As Eric Guido noted for Vinous, “This is the most northern location in Italy that you’ll find a DOC Montepulciano which, combined with the poor soils and moderating influences of the Adriatic coast, produces fruit that is packed full of character.”