Travel east out of Rome, over the grandeur of the Apennine mountains, and once you start to descend on the other side, you will find yourself in the tranquil majesty of Abruzzo.
The terrain moves from imposing peaks to rolling foothills and then gentle slopes as you approach the shimmering Adriatic sea. Here, centring on the small town of Tollo in the province of Chieti, is one of the smallest and newest DOCGs in Italy: Tullum DOCG.
As its name suggests, the area has been making wine for thousands of years – and right at the heart of its modern viticultural scene is Cantina Tollo.
Scroll down for the tasting notes and scores of
DWWA medal-winning Cantina Tollo and Feudo Antico wines A sense of place
This historic cooperative started in the 1960s, when a group of growers banded together to share their vinegrowing and winemaking experience, and has found huge success in the decades since.
Cantina Tollo now has 620 members; its vineyards cover 2,500 hectares, stretching from the coastal hills to the towering Maiella mountain; and its wines are enjoyed from east Asia to North America. In 2024 it was voted ‘Best Italian Cooperative’ for the sixth successive year at the Berliner Wein Trophy.
It’s not just about business success though. Cantina Tollo has been heavily involved in organic viticulture since the 1980s – long before low-intervention grape-growing became fashionable. The business gained Equalitas sustainability certification in 2022.
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