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The product
What Controguerra DOC is
A small appellation with many different wines.
Controguerra DOC, recognised in 1996, covers Montepulciano-based reds, whites with Trebbiano and Passerina, rosés, sparkling wines and passito wines, made from grapes left to dry before pressing.
It is one of Abruzzo’s most varied appellations: it lets producers experiment with other varieties alongside the traditional ones.
Territory
Where it comes from
The area lies in the far north of Abruzzo, on the hills of Controguerra and the nearby villages of the Val Vibrata, close to the border with the Marche. The breezy climate and clay soils favour both reds and fragrant whites.
From field to table
How it is made
- The grapes are harvested between September and October, depending on the variety.
- Reds ferment with the skins; whites and rosés are separated from them early.
- For passito, the best grapes are left to dry for weeks before pressing.
- Sparkling wines undergo a second fermentation that creates the bubbles.
In the kitchen
How to use it
With so many types, there is a Controguerra for every dish.
- The red with grilled meat and Teramo cured meats
- The white and sparkling wine with fish and starters
- The passito with dry biscuits and aged cheeses
- The red served at 16–18 °C, the white at 10 °C
Tips
How to choose and store it
- On the label look for «Controguerra DOC» and the type.
- Passito keeps for a long time even after opening, well stoppered.
- Ask at the winery to taste the different types: it is the best way to get to know them.
- Store bottles in a dark, cool place.
Good to know: many wineries in the area also make Colline Teramane DOCG and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.
Ordering
Where to buy it and whom to contact
Contacts checked on the official websites in October 2026: check availability and prices before ordering.
Illuminati
Family winery in Controguerra, in the Val Vibrata: it makes Colline Teramane DOCG and Controguerra DOC wines, including passito.
- Address: Contrada San Biagio, 18 – 64010 Controguerra (TE)
- Phone: 0861 808008
- Email: info@illuminativini.it
- Website: illuminativini.com
Consorzio Tutela Vini d’Abruzzo
The consortium that protects Abruzzo’s wine appellations: its website lists the member wineries, the production rules and events.
- Address: Corso Matteotti – Palazzo Corvo, 66026 Ortona (CH)
- Email: info@vinidabruzzo.it
- Website: vinidabruzzo.it
Gallery
Photos
Tap a photo to enlarge it.
Photo 1: vineyards in the Controguerra DOC area. Credits: pizzodisevo (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons, resized; the menu icon is also made from it.
Tradition
History and trivia
The Val Vibrata has a long tradition of vineyards and family wineries. In the 1990s producers asked for their own appellation, to promote the area’s wines and their many types.
Controguerra DOC was recognised in 1996 and has since covered red, white, rosé, sparkling and passito wines.
Did you know? on clear days the hills of Controguerra look out on both the Gran Sasso and the Adriatic Sea.