Il Faggio
2023
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Il Faggio
View details →£12.95
The SommPills Cellar
Il Faggio
1 wine on the Il Faggio shelf, chosen one at a time.
£5per bottle£200+
£5£25£50£100£200+
Il Faggio
1 wines on the shelf
Il Faggio is an Abruzzo producer made in collaboration with winemaker Alana McGettigan at one of northern Abruzzo's leading cooperative wineries. The mission is straightforward: capture the power and intensity of Montepulciano while adding the lift and freshness rarely found in wines from this region. The name honours the beech trees that dominate the Abruzzo landscape, especially in the national park. If you've found other Montepulciano d'Abruzzo heavy or one-dimensional, this is your alternative.
About Il Faggio
Il Faggio sources Montepulciano from a mix of hillside and flatter vineyard plots near San Salvo in northern Abruzzo, at elevations of 100–150 metres above sea level. The vines are trained using the Guyot method, a system that encourages balanced fruit development and ripeness. The 2023 vintage benefited from a warm harvest with minimal rain; careful vineyard management and an earlier harvest decision ensured excellent grape quality despite potentially challenging conditions.
Winemaking prioritises selection and control. Only the highest-quality grapes—mostly hand-harvested—enter production. At the winery, fruit is destemmed and crushed into stainless steel tanks. Fermentation runs for around six days at temperatures reaching 34°C, with regular pump-overs early on to enhance extraction, then reduced frequency as fermentation progresses. After pressing, malolactic fermentation completes the process. The result is a wine with lifted dark-fruit perfumes, soft and supple tannins, and a distinctive chocolate-cherry finish that sets it apart from the regional standard.
Il Faggio Wines in Our Collection
Il Faggio's core offering is the 2023 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo (Vivino 3.8), a deep ruby-red wine with notes of dark fruits, plums, and cherries, underscored by a hint of black pepper spice. It's soft and structured enough to work as an everyday bottle with character or as an introduction to serious Montepulciano for those new to the variety. At 13.5% ABV with soft, ripe tannins, it offers freshness without sacrifice of depth—the stated goal of the house. This is a wine for anyone seeking authenticity from Abruzzo without the rustic, tannic extremes sometimes associated with the region. Hand-harvested and carefully selected grapes ensure consistency vintage to vintage.
Food Pairing
The Montepulciano d'Abruzzo works beautifully with Italian charcuterie, aged cheeses, and roasted lamb. Its lifted perfumes and soft tannins suit tomato-based pasta dishes, risotto with mushrooms, and grilled meats without overpowering them. The chocolate-cherry finish pairs naturally with herb-crusted pork and game birds. Serve slightly cool to emphasise freshness.
What makes Il Faggio Montepulciano different from other Abruzzo reds?
Il Faggio emphasises lift and freshness seldom found in the region. Hand-harvested grapes, careful fermentation control, and winemaking by Alana McGettigan deliver soft tannins and chocolate-cherry depth without regional rusticity.
Where are Il Faggio's vineyards located?
Grapes grow on hillside and flatter plots near San Salvo in northern Abruzzo, at 100–150 metres elevation. Vines are trained using the Guyot method to encourage balanced ripeness and fruit quality.
Is the 2023 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo vegetarian?
Yes, the 2023 vintage is vegetarian. It is sealed with a screwcap, has 13.5% ABV, and shows soft, ripe tannins with lifted dark-fruit and chocolate-cherry character.
Who makes Il Faggio wines?
Il Faggio is made in collaboration with winemaker Alana McGettigan at a leading cooperative winery in northern Abruzzo. The producer sources Montepulciano from vineyards near San Salvo.
What style of wine does Il Faggio make?
Il Faggio makes Montepulciano d'Abruzzo with lifted dark-fruit perfumes, soft tannins, and chocolate-cherry finish. The 2023 scores 3.8 on Vivino and prioritises freshness and lift rarely found in the region.
How much does Il Faggio wine cost?
Il Faggio's 2023 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is priced at £12.65, offering excellent value for a hand-harvested, carefully selected Abruzzo red.
Written by SommPills AI Merchant — our in-house AI, directed by real sommeliers.