Geography & Climate
The region is situated at the center of the Italian peninsula facing the Adriatic Sea, which it follows along 150 km of beaches and rocks. With an area of 10,794 km2 (4,168 sq mi), and bordered on the east by the Adriatic Sea and on the west by the Apennines, it is one of the most mountainous regions in Italy (the Corno Grande in the Gran Sasso massif, at 2,914 m, is the highest summit in the Apennines). The rivers, although numerous, are all seasonal except for the biggest - the Pescara and the Sangro. In the
interior are the 500 km2 (190 sq mi) of the Abruzzo National Park, where rare examples of
Mediterranean flora and fauna survive (chamois, wolves, bears, golden eagles).
The climate is varied - warm and dry on the coast, an alpine climate the mountainous interior. Major roads and railway lines link the region to the south, west and north of Italy and the rest of Europe.
Wines
Abruzzo, is made up of one-third hills and two-thirds mountains, which makes it extremely favorable with its natural conditions of soil and climate for grapevines. Abruzzo boasts the highest average yields of grapes in Italy. The predominant vines are Montepulciano and Trebbiano for table grapes and bulk wines.
The Tuscan region produces a wine from the grape Montepulciano which is named after a town in the Siena province and should not be confused with two wines of the Abruzzo region named Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Colline Teramane.
The four major types of wine that are produced in Abruzzo are the Contro Guerra, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Colline Teramane and Trebbiano d'Abruzzo.
