A curious name and an enchanting organoleptic bouquet: Pecorino is a wine (don’t confuse it with the cheese of the same name) that risked disappearing during the 20th century, ousted by the most productive varieties of Central Italy. In recent years, however, it has been rediscovered and today is particularly appreciated for its floral and herbaceous notes, acidulous taste and good structure, which vary according to its specific production area.
Travelling between Marche and Abruzzo (and briefly touching also Lazio and Umbria), here is a guide to discovering Italian Pecorino wine!
Marche or Abruzzo? The terroir of Pecorino wine
Disputed between Marche and Abruzzo, it is difficult to define Pecorino wine by its regional identity. Rather, it makes much more sense to describe it as an Apennine wine, which has found its ideal terroir in the heights of central Italy.
Climatically speaking, it is a grape variety that does not seek high temperatures, but instead thrives in cool, breezy conditions, which is why many plots are located near the Apennine foothills, especially those of the Sibillini Mountains.
The soils on which it thrives most are those rich in limestone and clay, but it also adapts well to sandy soils. The quantitative yield is rather low (and has in the past risked causing the vine's disappearance), but the quality is very high in terms of aromatic concentration.
These climatic and geological characteristics can be found not only in the Marche and Abruzzo regions, but also in Latium and Umbria, regions where it is possible - albeit to a much lesser degree - to find some variations of this wine.
It is in the main production areas, however, that the best known and most prestigious appellations are to be found:
- Offida DOCG
- Controguerra DOC
- Abruzzo DOC
- Terre di Chieti IGT
- Falerio DOC
Pecorino wine characteristics and recommended pairings
Although the Pecorino vine is more or less always adapted to the same climatic and geological conditions, each wine produced from it has slightly different nuances depending on the area of production, the soils in which the vines find their nutrients and the temperatures to which the grapes are exposed. This is why one cannot say one is fully familiar with Pecorino without having experienced its most representative labels. Here are 4 not to be missed!
‘Mercantino' Offida Pecorino DOCG 2023
In this journey of discovery of Pecorino white wine, it is worth starting with the only DOCG it won in the early 2000s, uncorking a bottle of ‘Mercantino’ Offida Pecorino DOCG 2023, produced between the Marche municipalities of Ascoli Piceno and Fermo.
Ideal with a complete fish menu - from an aperitif of fried seafood to cod or salmon pies, but also during a rich shellfish barbecue - this wine with its straw-yellow colour mottled with green transforms the olfactory examination into a true experience, showing off tropical notes of mango and melon, with an undertone of citrus and flowers that lightens the whole. On the palate, the sweetness of the fruit is balanced by a lingering acidic aftertaste.
‘Tarà' Falerio Pecorino DOC 2023
Another outstanding Marche denomination is Falerio DOC, produced in the province of Ascoli Piceno and well represented by a bottle of ‘Tarà’ Falerio Pecorino DOC 2023.
Tasting it is almost a must for those in search of a lively and harmonious wine to uncork in company during an aperitif with not too intense dishes. Chicken skewers, salmon meatballs, seafood salads and prawn cocktails, but also octopus with potatoes, mini vegetable quiche and sandwiches, can be delicately accompanied by this wine with its bewitching fruity and floral notes. Hints of pear, jasmine, kiwi and passion fruit immediately captivate the nose, followed by floral hints of great elegance on the palate, obtained by the addition of a small percentage of Trebbiano grapes. To be served young or kept in the cellar for a few years, waiting for the right occasion!
Pecorino Abruzzo DOC 2022
Whether ordered take-away or prepared at home with the right ingredients (and a little patience) sushi and sashimi always give great satisfaction to fans of the genre and for those who love small presentations capable of conquering not only the palate, but also the eye. Nigiri, uramaki, hosomaki and temaki are in fact small masterpieces of design and colour, to be enjoyed with soy sauce, a slice of ginger and a bit of the ever-present wasabi.
For these sophisticated oriental preparations you need the right wine, kindly offered by the Abruzzo wine scene: a Pecorino Abruzzo DOC 2022. Beautiful and elegant with its not-too-intense straw yellow colour, this Pecorino DOC wine offers persuasive notes of apple and pear on the nose, enriched by a hint of cinnamon and toasted hints of hazelnuts.
In the mouth it is just as satisfying, thanks to a fresh and savoury touch that also goes well with savoury pies and light vegetarian dishes.
Pecorino Terre di Chieti IGP
With a good glass of we finally close this guide to Pecorino wine and its gastronomic pairings, calling to mind a white wine from Abruzzo with intense and articulate aromas and a remarkable structure.
Thanks to its versatility, this Italian white wine can be paired with numerous courses, which it accompanies with a rich and captivating organoleptic bouquet of mango, white peach and aromatic herbs, among which sage stands out. The sip is satisfying, structured, persistent and slightly balsamic on the finish, capable of transforming any meal into a unique sensory experience. Excellent with most fish dishes, it goes well with mixed seafood fritters, to be enjoyed with family or friends, between chats!
History and origins of the name Pecorino wine
The Pecorino vine probably owes this appellation to the fact that grazing sheep were fond of it and often stayed to eat its sweet grapes, which ripened precisely during the transhumance period.
Regarding the origins of the vine, there are still many uncertainties and it is not easy to establish whether it spread first in the Marche or Abruzzo regions. It is thought, however, that the area chosen by the plant to flourish was the Sibillini Mountains, where it was used for the production of a blending wine, used to reinforce lighter products. However, its low productivity did not allow it to spread as much as it should have.
The credit for the rediscovery of this grape goes to the growers of the Marche and Abruzzo regions, who at the end of the 20th century valorised the Pecorino grape to the point of producing some of Italy's best white wines and encouraging it to obtain the DOC and DOCG designations at the beginning of the next century.
Now that you know the characteristics and pairings of Pecorino wine, explore Svinando catalogue in search of the best bottles!