Boundaries:
To the North is Emilia-Romagana, the South is Abruzzo and
Southwest is Campania. The West boundaries are Umbria and Tuscany.
Climate:
One-third is mountainous while the remainder is hilly.
Soil:
Volcanic and rocky.
Grapes:
Reds; Ciliegiolo. Whites; Bianchello, a.k.a.
Beancomane, Maceratino or Montecchiese, Trebbiano, Malvasia Toscana,
Pinot Bianco, Verdicchio, Vernaccia and the ancient grpae, Passerina.
There are ten DOCs in the area. Two of these made
from the white Verdicchio grape are Verdicchio die Castelli di Jesi
and Verdicchio di Matelica and are also available in sparkling versions.
Rosso Conero is mostly from the Montepulciano grape with up to a fifteen
percent Sangiovese blend. Another Sagiovese-Montepulciano blend is
Rosso Piceno with a minimum base of sixty-percent Sangiovese that
is stylishly lighter and produced in larger quantity.
