TENUTA DEL PRIORE

The Cellar

Tenuta del Priore is located within the municipality of Collecorvino, a small town near Pescara in Abruzzo. The area surrounding the farm is a characteristic backdrop of rolling hills that stretch from the Apennines to the Adriatic coast. The Apennines, a rugged mountain range often covered by snow including the Gran Sasso and Maiella mountains, dominate the view to the west, whereas to the east a series of hills roll gently out to the sea. During ancient times, these surroundings were occupied by a sea opposing the young mountain range. The rivers have since brought with them silt, depositing clays, lime and sand. In the following period, characterised by glaciations, the Abruzzo region was formed by a series of glaciers and valleys that were carved out of the rock as a result of rivers stemming from vast bodies of water. Collecorvino is situated to the left of the Tavo Valley with plots of land varying from 150 to 300 meters of altitude. The soils are different according to the hillside and the period in which they were formed. It is very common to find clayey marls, often calcareous, or loose soil rich in skeleton, especially around the top of the hills. This is indeed the case for the highest peak of the area which is called “Colle del Mondo” where a soil rich in morainic material gives life to an old strain of the Montepulciano grape.