Story: Marche | Wine region
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Introduction and brief history
The Marche region, known as “Marche” in Italian, is located on the Adriatic coast in eastern Italy and is renowned for its long tradition of winegrowing, which dates back to Roman times. Even ancient authors praised the wines from this area. Over the centuries, viticulture in the Marche remained an important part of the local culture, even though the region long stood in the shadow of more famous areas such as Tuscany and Piedmont. In recent decades, the region has increasingly focused on quality wines, rediscovering old grape varieties and local traditions.

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Geographical features, climatic conditions, and size of the wine-growing areas
The Marche region is characterized by a varied landscape: the Apennines rise in the west, while the region opens up to the Adriatic coast in the east. This combination of hills, mountains, and coastal plains creates a variety of microclimates. The climate is Mediterranean on the coast and cooler and more continental inland. The vineyards cover around 20,000 hectares, with most of them located in the hilly areas, which offer ideal conditions for viticulture.

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Commonly grown grape varieties and why
Both white and red grape varieties are cultivated in the Marche region. Among the white grapes, varieties such as Verdicchio, which is mainly grown in the area around Jesi and Matelica, dominate. Verdicchio is characterized by its freshness, fine minerality, and long shelf life, and is ideally suited to the local soils. Other white varieties include Trebbiano and Malvasia. Red grapes include Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot, with regional varieties such as Lacrima di Morro d'Alba becoming increasingly important.

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Noteworthy wines or wine specialties
The most famous wine specialty of the Marche region is Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, which is classified as DOC or DOCG. This white wine impresses with its lively acidity, floral notes, and fine minerality. On the red wine side, the rare Lacrima di Morro d'Alba is worth mentioning, producing an aromatic, fruity red wine with spicy nuances. In addition, Montepulciano, Sangiovese, and international varieties are used to produce complex red wines that can be both fresh and suitable for aging. - Gerardo [TS12/25]