The wines of Abruzzi are cited by dozens of authors over the centuries, including Ovid, Pliny and Martial. Stories about the health benefits of Abruzzo’s red wine flourished already thousands of years ago.
The cure for Hannibal’s horses from scurvy in 216 BC is attributed to Montepulciano d’Abruzzo well before the French Paradox aired on CBS’s highly rated “60 Minutes” news program in 1991 to claim the health benefits of wine if consumed in moderation.
After the Barbarian invasion of central Italy that destroyed a great deal of Italy’s oenological heritage, the vine flourished again in the area thanks to Dominican friars and in the 15th century Serafino Razzi wrote of Penne’s wine (10km away from Loreto Aprutino):
“The region is extremely fertile, producing wheat, precious wine, olive oil in abundance, figs, and an incredible array of fruits […] the scenery is breathtaking with
mountains, valleys and the Sea"
Serafino Razzi