La Valentina Pecorino 2023

Fattoria La Valentina, established in 1990 by the Di Properzio brothers near Pescara, Italy, is a testament to their dedication to Abruzzo’s native grapes. Starting with their first vintage in 1994, they focused on understanding their Santa Teresa vineyard and consistently improving wine quality, aiming to elevate the region’s DOC wines. Their approach centers on respecting the land, expanding to higher-elevation vineyards in pristine conditions near a national park. Committed to sustainability, they’ve been certified organic since 2016, avoiding chemicals and promoting biodiversity.

Instead of introducing foreign grape varieties, the Di Properzios champion Abruzzo’s heritage, focusing on Montepulciano, Trebbiano Abruzzese, and the rediscovered Pecorino. Their evolution lies in refining grape cultivation and winemaking.

Pecorino is one of the most exciting “new” white grape varieties coming from Italy these days, and Abruzzo is the source for many of the best versions. La Valentina’s Pecorino is a delicious white wine 100% Pecorino in the Colline Pescaresi. A bit of aging on the lees adds complexity and weight to this wine but it dazzles as apparent by its three reviews of 90+ points.