The Confusing Geography of Italian Wine

Despite its name, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is not made from the Montepulciano grape. It is actually a Sangiovese-based blend from a Tuscan hilltop town, often mistaken for wines from a completely different region.

This famous red wine relies on the Sangiovese grape, the same star used in Chianti. The confusion stems from the fact that Montepulciano is both the name of a town in Tuscany and a popular grape variety grown in Abruzzo. When you order a Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, you are drinking a different wine made from a different grape in a different part of Italy. Knowing this distinction is the ultimate secret to navigating a complex Italian wine list.