Molise wine region

Molise wine region is small and located in southern Italy, between Abruzzo, Puglia, Lazio, and Campania. Even if it is small the region has long history in winemaking, with vineyards on hills and mountains and a short coast. Its wines are getting more known for quality, especially wines from Tintilia. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

History

Viticulture is very old in Molise, before Rome, the Italic people and Sanniti had vines for drink and trade. ^{[1] [2] [4]} Romans bring better ways to grow vines, water, and make wine. ^{[1] [4]} In Middle Ages monks and church keep vineyards, save grapes and improve wine making. ^[1] Later Molise wine had problems like Italy unification and wars, but farmers keep traditions. ^{[1] [2]} 20th century had new machines and focus on local grapes like Tintilia, wine quality went up, DOC and IGT^{[ clarification needed ]} rules make wines more known. ^{[1] [4]}

Geography and climate

Molise covers 4,438 km², 55% is mountain and 45% hill, almost no flat areas. ^[1] Vineyards are on hills and mountains, altitudes are from 200 to 500 meters, different for grapes and winesr. ^{[2] [4]} The climate is different in the region. Inland is semi-continental with hot summers cold winters and snow. This makes sugar and flavor build up in grapes. ^{[1] [2] [4]} In coast areas is milder with breeze from sea and less temperature change, good for grapes that ripen faster. ^{[1] [2]} Soils are not the same everywhere: hills have calcareous-marly, siliceous clay, and argil-marly soil, coast has sandy and clay soil, more fertile but less good for strong wines. ^{[2] [3] [4]} This lets people grow both local and foreign grapes and make wines with different taste. ^{[1] [2]}

Grapes

Molise grow local and foreign grapes. Reds are 74% of wine. ^[3] The main types are Tintilia, Montepulciano, Aglianico and Sangiovese. ^{[1] [2] [4]} Tintilia is signature grape, makes ruby red wine, spicy smell, firm tannins, can age ^{[2] [4]} White grapes 26% of wine, like Trebbiano Toscano, Falanghina, Greco, Bombino Bianco, Malvasia Bianco, Chardonnay, Sauvignon. ^{[1] [2] [4]} Other grapes are Moscato Reale for sweet wine, Moscato di Montagano, Amorese, Campanino. ^[4] Vine training is old and new: tendone still in old vineyards, new use alberello, spalliera, cordone speronato. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Wine regions and DOCs

Molise has 4 DOCs and 2 IGTs: ^{[1] [3] [4]}

• Biferno DOC (1983) – reds and rosato Montepulciano (70–80%) Aglianico (15–20%); whites Trebbiano Toscano 60–70%. ^{[1] [4]} Altitude: 500 m for reds/rosato, 600 m for whites. Rosso Riserva 3 years aging ^[4]
• Pentro d'Isernia DOC (1983) – reds and rosato Montepulciano 45–55% Sangiovese 45–55%, max 10% other red; whites Trebbiano Toscano 60–70% Bombino Bianco 30–40%. ^{[1] [4]}
• Molise DOC (1998) – covers most of Molise, 5 types: rosso (Riserva), spumante, passito, novello, frizzante. Montepulciano at least 85% in reds; other grapes ok for whites and reds. Frizzante and spumante need 85% of grape used. ^[4]
• Tintilia del Molise DOC (2011) – reds, rosato, Riserva; 95% Tintilia, Riserva 2 years aging from November. ^{[1] [4]}
• IGTs: Osco (Terre degli Osci) and Rotae, 1995. ^{[1] [4]}

The main vineyards in Campobasso province (coast hills 90% wine) and Isernia province (mountain, less yield, Tintilia grows best). ^{[2] [3] [4]}

References

1. "Il Vino nel Molise". Quattrocalici (in Italian). Retrieved 17 September 2025.
2. "Alla scoperta del Molise vitivinicolo". Original Italia (in Italian). 24 October 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
3. "Molise". Assovini (in Italian). Retrieved 17 September 2025.
4. "Vini Molisani: storia, vitigni e zone di produzione". Svinando (in Italian). Retrieved 17 September 2025.