The Le Terrazze estate goes back to 1882. Started by the Terni family of which Antonio is the fifth generation, it has really been in Tonio and Georgina’s time that this small estate has really taken form. He oversaw the replanting and optimizing of the family’s vineyards and olive groves and brought to the estate famed Sicilian winegrowing consultant Federico Curtaz, who has overseen the meteoric rise in quality here.

Le Terrazze’s business card remains the Rosso Conero, a traditional wine from the Conero Riviera production area, first produced in 1967. Made 100% from Montepulciano grapes, fermentation takes place at a controlled temperature of 25°C (77°F) to control the grape’s natural inclination to producing a lot of alcohol and phenolics when too warm. After steeping on its skins for 5 days, it is decanted into oak barrels of various sizes and aged for a year before resting in stainless steel tanks for around nine months and in bottle for another three.

The 2023 is simply gorgeous, a dark, velvety red with layers of complexity and the dark earth minerality so typical of the grape. Smelling of spring florals and the wild fennel that grows everywhere in these hills, it’s also coastal in its salinity and bracken-like herbal notes. Rich and expansive, it’s just lovely!