Marches

Nestled between the Apennine Mountains and the Adriatic Sea in east-central Italy, the Marches have been home to vines since the Romans and Goths roamed the land. In the recent past, the wines were considered rustic, with few scientific techniques employed and frequent overproduction.
A farmhouse surrounded by vineyards in the Marches district of Italy.<BR>
Now, a new image is emerging from this venerable enclave, one of rising quality, lower yields, cool fermentation of whites, and the employment of consultant winemakers. Because these wines are less heralded than those of Piedmont and Tuscany, they deliver great value for the price.<BR>

The most appreciated of the region's wines are those composed of Verdicchio, an ancient, indigenous grape variety whose name is derived from its greenish color. Although its popularity traces back to the “fish” amphoras that once contained the wine, sales declined in the late ’70s and early ’80s. With qualitative advances such as late picking, reducing or eliminating secondary varieties, and limited use of barrel fermentation and aging, the wines have rebounded impressively.