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“Riparosso” Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC 2020
The rugged, red-tinged rocky landscape of Ripe in the immediate vicinity of the vineyards gave its name to the Riparosso. Its intense bouquet of delicately fresh character is beguiling, the velvety and mild taste absolutely seductive. SUPERIORE.DE
"Ripe brambleberries and a tinge of coffee on the nose and palate. Medium-bodied with firm, coffee-chocolate tannins that give a lightly chewy finish. Nice flavors to this, but give it a little time for the tannins to mellow." James Suckling
read more- Grape Variety: 100% Montepulciano
- Cultivation: conventional
- Expansion: 8 months large oak barrel
- Vegan Clearing: yes
- Filtration: yes
- Alcohol Content: 13,50 % vol
- Total Extract: 29,00 g/l
- Total Acidity: 5,60 g/l
- Residual Sugar: 2,50 g/l
- Sulfite: 89 mg/l
- ph-Value: 3,64
- Closure: natural cork
- Serving Temperature: 18-20 °C
- Storage Potential: 2025+
- Allergens: contains sulphites
stored air-conditioned12022120 · 0,75 l · 9,20 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately
“Campirosa” Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC 2021
Campirosa Cerasuolo only gradually unfolds its fresh strawberry and cherry notes, adorned with sweet flowers. On the palate, silky-soft and very convincing with its ripe red fruits and juicy acids. Hints of liquorice, exotic spices and nuanced tannins emerge on the finish and seem to linger for almost a minute. Campirosa is a charming favourite wine young, but can also age for another year in the cellar. SUPERIORE.DE
"The 2021 Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo Campirosa keeps me at the edge of the glass with a slightly confectionary bouquet of sweet and sour melon, rose petals and candied lime. It’s silky-smooth and round with hints of sour citrus and stimulating acids to balance. Notes of licorice and hard red candies linger long, as the Campirosa finishes fresh and with a pleasant inner sweetness." Vinous
"Pleasant, floral nose with bright red cherries and hints of red flower petals. Medium-bodied with a nicely controlled balance of fruit, acidity and just a hint of tannin. A rosé with backbone." James Suckling
read more- Grape Variety: 100% Montepulciano
- Cultivation: conventional
- Expansion: stainless steel
- Vegan Clearing: yes
- Filtration: yes
- Alcohol Content: 13,00 % vol
- Total Extract: 23,00 g/l
- Total Acidity: 5,80 g/l
- Residual Sugar: 1,90 g/l
- Sulfite: 85 mg/l
- ph-Value: 3,46
- Closure: natural cork
- Serving Temperature: 8-10 °C
- Storage Potential: 2024+
- Allergens: contains sulphites
stored air-conditioned12022821 · 0,75 l · 9,20 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately
“Costalupo” Bianco Controguerra DOC 2021
Fresh cuvée of predominantly Trebbiano and thus typical for Abruzzo. Very harmonious and beautifully fruity in aroma and taste. SUPERIORE.DE
"Fresh nose of lemon and sherbet, following through to a medium-bodied palate with lots of energy, bright fruit and a stony texture at the end. I like the long, citrus and mineral finish. Super fresh." James Suckling
read more- Grape Varieties: 70% Trebbiano, 15% Chardonnay, 15% Passerina
- Cultivation: conventional
- Expansion: 6 months in stainless steel tank
- Filtration: yes
- Alcohol Content: 12,50 % vol
- Total Extract: 21,85 g/l
- Total Acidity: 5,85 g/l
- Residual Sugar: 1,65 g/l
- Sulfite: 82 mg/l
- ph-Value: 3,35
- Closure: natural cork
- Serving Temperature: 8-10 °C
- Storage Potential: 2024+
- Food Recommendations: starters
- Allergens: contains sulphites
stored air-conditioned12020221 · 0,75 l · 9,20 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately
Pecorino Bianco Controguerra DOC 2021
Straw yellow, finely and richly scented with ripe fruit and white flowers, memories of meadow herbs and citrus fruits. Slightly spicy taste, full-bodied and nicely persistent. Good balance between structure and softness. SUPERIORE.DE
"Bright, with yellow-fruit, pineapple and typical, savory character. Medium-bodied, tasty and focused palate. Turns stony on the finish with some candied pineapple in the aftertaste." James Suckling
read more- Grape Variety: 100% Pecorino
- Cultivation: conventional
- Expansion: stainless steel
- Filtration: yes
- Alcohol Content: 13,50 % vol
- Total Extract: 22,95 g/l
- Total Acidity: 5,98 g/l
- Residual Sugar: 1,97 g/l
- Sulfite: 85 mg/l
- ph-Value: 3,36
- Closure: natural cork
- Serving Temperature: 8-10 °C
- Storage Potential: 2025
- Food Recommendations: vitello tonnato, caprese, antipasti
- Allergens: contains sulphites
stored air-conditioned12020121 · 0,75 l · 10,53 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately
“Ilico” Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC 2019
Deep red colour, fascinating complex aroma spectrum on the nose. Dominated by the ripe berry scent, with hints of plums and tobacco. Powerful and intense on the palate, rich in extract, with juicy soft tannins. SUPERIORE.DE
"Clean, mixed berries on the nose and palate. A well-poised, medium-bodied red with a good, fluid feel and some medium oak and fruit tannin adding structure. Slightly dry finish for now. Give it a year to meld all together and expand mid palate. Try from 2023." James Suckling
read more- Grape Variety: 100% Montepulciano
- Cultivation: conventional
- Expansion: 10 months large oak barrel
- Filtration: yes
- Alcohol Content: 13,50 % vol
- Total Extract: 30,45 g/l
- Total Acidity: 5,72 g/l
- Residual Sugar: 2,05 g/l
- Sulfite: 86 mg/l
- ph-Value: 3,52
- Closure: natural cork
- Serving Temperature: 16-18 °C
- Storage Potential: 2025+
- Allergens: contains sulphites
stored air-conditioned12022619 · 0,75 l · 11,87 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately
“Zanna” Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva Colline Teramane DOCG 2017
Deep dark ruby red. Full, deep and explosive bouquet reminiscent of dark berries, tobacco and liquorice. Illuminati's single-vineyard classic Zanna, with its elegant, very complex taste and delicate oak spice, leaves nothing to be desired every year. SUPERIORE.DE
"Rich red and black berries with hints of sea shells, dried herbs and a touch of balsamic. Medium-to full-bodied with a relaxed palate, where the firm, fine and polished tannins bring out a drier aspect of the fruit. This needs another year to meld together better. Try from 2023." James Suckling
read more- Grape Variety: 100% Montepulciano
- Cultivation: conventional
- Expansion: 24 months large oak barrel
- Filtration: yes
- Alcohol Content: 14,50 % vol
- Total Extract: 32,55 g/l
- Total Acidity: 5,75 g/l
- Residual Sugar: 2,15 g/l
- Sulfite: 88 mg/l
- ph-Value: 3,59
- Closure: natural cork
- Serving Temperature: 18-20 °C
- Storage Potential: 2028+
- Food Recommendations: roast lamb
- Allergens: contains sulphites
stored air-conditioned12022317 · 0,75 l · 28,67 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately
“Lumen” Rosso Controguerra Riserva DOC 2015
The intoxicating Lumen from Montepulciano and Cabernet Sauvignon combines a deep colour with a full bouquet and reminds of blackberries, raspberries and plums. A dense structure supports the soft, flattering taste with ripe fruit and well-integrated wood components. Solidly built, with sympathetic tannins and a long finish. SUPERIORE.DE
"The 2015 Rosso Riserva Lumen is deeply alluring. A dark and rich display of crushed rocks give way to black cherries, plum sauce, brown spice and minty herbs. This is velvety and elegant, balanced by cool-toned black fruits and brisk acids, with balsamic and savory herbal tones resonating over a fine layer of grippy tannins. The 2015 Lumen is persistent, staining to the senses, yet also youthfully structured, tapering off dry with a mineral thrust. This impressive blend of 70% Montepulciano and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon needs some time to flesh out and integrate its oak, but it will be worth the wait." Vinous
read more- Grape Varieties: 70% Montepulciano, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Cultivation: conventional
- Expansion: 18 months barrique
- Filtration: yes
- Alcohol Content: 14,50 % vol
- Total Extract: 32,85 g/l
- Total Acidity: 5,20 g/l
- Residual Sugar: 2,00 g/l
- Sulfite: 98 mg/l
- ph-Value: 3,68
- Closure: natural cork
- Serving Temperature: 18-20 °C
- Storage Potential: 2029+
- Allergens: contains sulphites
stored air-conditioned12022415 · 0,75 l · 38,67 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately
“Pieluni” Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva Colline Teramane DOCG 2015
True to the style of the house, the Riserva Pieluni has an excellent structure. Spicy, interwoven fruit aromas, underpinned by a fine hint of vanilla, intensify in the strikingly deep and long taste. The dense, pleasant tannin underlines the elegance of the top product of Illuminati from the Colline Teramane, probably Abruzzo's best denomination for Montepulciano. SUPERIORE.DE
"The 2015 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Pieluni opens up with a seductive display of rich plums, crushed black cherries, mentholated herbs and Indian spice. This is silky and textural, soothing the palate with ripe black fruits, as a complex web of minerals and fine-grained tannins settle in. Blueberries, currants, mocha and hints of tobacco linger throughout the long and structured finale. The 2015 Pieluni is nicely balanced and classy, yet it needs another year or two of cellaring to show its best." Vinous
read more- Grape Variety: 100% Montepulciano
- Cultivation: conventional
- Expansion: 24 months barrique
- Filtration: no
- Alcohol Content: 15,00 % vol
- Total Extract: 35,00 g/l
- Total Acidity: 5,20 g/l
- Residual Sugar: 2,20 g/l
- Sulfite: 110 mg/l
- ph-Value: 3,74
- Closure: natural cork
- Serving Temperature: 18-20 °C
- Storage Potential: 2036+
- Allergens: contains sulphites
stored air-conditioned12022515 · 0,75 l · 49,33 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately
“Zanna” Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva Colline Teramane DOCG 2015 · MAGNUM in Gift Box
Deep dark ruby red. Full, deep bouquet reminiscent of dark berries. Its classic and elegant taste with a delicate oak spiciness leaves nothing to be desired. SUPERIORE.DE
"On the gentle hills of the Colline Terramane subzone in northern Abruzzo, the Illuminati family cultivates its vines: Inviting aromas of wild berries, tobacco and liquorice; balanced in the mouth, the tannins well integrated, finishes with a long fruity finish full of character. Goes well with game dishes." Vinum
"Aromas of crushed herbs and spiced cherry show a pleasing depth on the nose. Medium in weight, the palate brings juicy red cherry, tobacco and earth, with slightly sandy tannins rising up on the finish. Sourced from a single vineyard in the Colline Teramane DOCG, it shows very good vibrancy and concentration." Wine Enthusiast
"The 2015 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva Zanna explodes from the glass with a seductive mix of crushed blackberries and Marasca cherries, infused with exotic brown spices, notes of rosemary and shaved cedar. Silky textures coat the palate, yet they are quickly contrasted by tart wild berry fruits and minerals as brisk acids tug at the cheeks. This The Zanna closes long and structured, clenching the senses in grippy tannin, while blue and purple-toned fruits and florals linger. The 2015 needs at least a few years of cellaring to help ease its tannic clout, at which point it should be a stellar rendition of Illuminati's Zanna." Vinous
read more- Grape Variety: 100% Montepulciano
- Cultivation: conventional
- Expansion: 24 months large oak barrel
- Filtration: yes
- Alcohol Content: 14,00 % vol
- Total Extract: 33,25 g/l
- Total Acidity: 5,85 g/l
- Residual Sugar: 2,15 g/l
- Sulfite: 88 mg/l
- ph-Value: 3,59
- Closure: natural cork
- Serving Temperature: 18-20 °C
- Storage Potential: 2027+
- Food Recommendations: roast lamb
- Allergens: contains sulphites
stored air-conditioned12022915 · 1,5 l · 33,33 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shipping< 24 units available
“Zanna” Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva Colline Teramane DOCG 2017 · MAGNUM in Gift Box
Deep dark ruby red. Full, deep and explosive bouquet reminiscent of dark berries, tobacco and liquorice. Illuminati's single-vineyard classic Zanna, with its elegant, very complex taste and delicate oak spice, leaves nothing to be desired every year. SUPERIORE.DE
"Rich red and black berries with hints of sea shells, dried herbs and a touch of balsamic. Medium-to full-bodied with a relaxed palate, where the firm, fine and polished tannins bring out a drier aspect of the fruit. This needs another year to meld together better. Try from 2023." James Suckling
read more- Grape Variety: 100% Montepulciano
- Cultivation: conventional
- Expansion: 24 months large oak barrel
- Filtration: yes
- Alcohol Content: 14,50 % vol
- Total Extract: 32,55 g/l
- Total Acidity: 5,75 g/l
- Residual Sugar: 2,15 g/l
- Sulfite: 88 mg/l
- ph-Value: 3,59
- Closure: natural cork
- Serving Temperature: 18-20 °C
- Storage Potential: 2030+
- Food Recommendations: roast lamb
- Allergens: contains sulphites
stored air-conditioned12022917 · 1,5 l · 35,27 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately

When the winery was first called Fattoria Nico, named after the founder Nicola Illuminati, the wine, initially produced in small quantities, was still bottled in glass balloons. Since the 1970s, the Abruzzi estate, which dates back to the late 19th century and has long been known under the name Dino Illuminati, has undergone major quality upsurges. Today the wines are sought after all over the world. Every year, six out of ten bottles are exported to five continents. The family winery is situated between the sea and the mountains, almost on the border with the Marches, in the municipality of Controguerra in the DOCG Colline Teramane. The owner and eponym of the company, which is now in its fourth generation, is the winemaker Dino Illuminati, who is well over 80 years old and still determines the course of the estate today. 'Cavaliere del Lavoro' known. The grandson of the founder was decisively responsible for the development of the region of origin. Today Dino is supported by his wife Marina and his son Stefano, but also by his siblings Lorenzo and Anna.
The area around Controguerra is one of the most productive wine-growing zones in Abruzzo. The area used in the Azienda Agricola Dino Illuminati for the cultivation of red and white grapes has increased almost ninefold over the years from 15 hectares in the beginning to the present day. The grey eminence of the Colline Teramane is gladly quoted with the words: "I chose the wine and forgot everything else. But I've never regretted it." The estate manager, who is far from being an old hand, has the most modern technology at his disposal for the vinification of his noble wines. The traditional and in their way unique high-quality wines age in barriques and Slavonian oak barrels.
The seventeen wines prepared in the cellar - red, white and rosé - are wines with a strong character and often very terroir-specific. One of the three flagships is - besides Pieluni and Lumen - the Zanna, a classic Montepulciano of this Abruzzo cultivation zone. The noble wine, which has often been ennobled with a set of three glasses by the wine guideGambero Rosso, is not only able to easily compete with competing products due to its complexity, fullness and personality strength, but is also probably the best Colline Teramane ever. The grapes used for this noble plant come from a vineyard that is more than 45 years old and has a great Abruzzo pergola education. Dino named his wine Pieluni after his three grandchildren Pierpaolo, Ludovica and Nicola. The red wines of the house Illuminati are almost exclusively made from Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. SUPERIORE.DE
"You write Controguerra and read Colline Teramane. And here in this winery the adventure of the Colline Teramane began for this wonderful region of Abruzzo."Gambero Rosso
Facts
- Year of foundation: 1890
- Owner: Dino Illuminati
- Annual production: approx. 1,200,000 bottles
- Vineyard: approx. 130 hectares
- Conventional cultivation