Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is produced from the Montepulciano variety, grown in the Abruzzo region, on Italy's Adriatic coast. The Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC title was established in 1968 and covers 74 miles of the eastern Abruzzo coastline and spreads inland for approximately 20 miles. The vineyards are located on the undulating topography created by the Apennine Mountain range. The foothills create ideal microclimates, taking advantage of the 2,260 hours of average annual sunshine in the region. The vineyards within the coastal areas of Abruzzo benefit from the oceanic influence of the Adriatic Ocean which moderates temperatures and aerates the canopy. The vines are trained according to the traditional overhead trellis system called Pergola Abruzzese and are planted in medium-density clay soils, which have excellent water retention properties to hydrate the vines through the hot summers.