Kriya Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Pairs with: Traditional Abruzzese arrosticini (grilled lamb skewers), a rich lamb or wild boar ragù, baked manicotti, a gourmet sausage and mushroom pizza, or a rustic chickpea and tomato stew drizzled with high-quality extra virgin olive oil.
Good for: Fueling a casual pizza and pasta night with friends, introducing eco-conscious or natural wine lovers to a pristine Italian classic, or keeping a highly energetic, versatile table red fully stocked.
Grape: 100% Montepulciano.
I am from: Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC, Abruzzo, Italy (Sourced from certified organic estate vineyards in Caldari di Ortona).
The Story: Vigna Madre—which beautifully translates to "Mother Vine"—is a visionary estate built entirely on a foundation of environmental mindfulness. Spearheaded by the Di Carlo family, who are widely celebrated as pioneering champions of organic and biodynamic viticulture in Abruzzo, the winery itself is a marvel constructed purely around "Bio-Architecture" principles. The name of this cuvée, "Kriya," is a Sanskrit word meaning "action through awareness," directly reflecting their deeply intentional, low-intervention philosophy.
Perched in a geographic sweet spot between the cooling breezes of the Adriatic Sea and the rugged Apennine mountains, the vineyards completely bypass artificial irrigation. This strict dry-farming forces the vines to struggle, pushing their roots deep into a complex soil matrix of clay, sand, and iron to soak up pure, unadulterated terroir. To round out their holistic ethos, the wine is certified bio-vegan—completely avoiding traditional animal-derived fining agents—and packaged using eco-friendly recycled materials.
Why You'll Love Me: It is bright, light-footed, and remarkably pure, completely rewriting the old playbook of heavy, over-extracted Montepulcianos in favor of mouthwatering, primary fruit energy. It pours a deep, luminous purple-ruby color with vivid violet highlights. The nose is aromatically explosive and highly vibrant, bursting with a fresh basket of crunchy black cherries, wild blackberries, and sweet dark plums, intricately layered with savory nuances of smoky flint, crushed stone, and wild Italian brushwood. On the palate, it delivers a beautifully balanced, medium-bodied frame with an effortlessly soft, satiny texture. A juicy core of dark berry fruit is backed by a remarkably brisk, refreshing line of natural acidity and fine-grained, powdery tannins, sailing into a long, clean, and deeply savory finish.
