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Molise Region
Rosa D'Ancona - December 15, 2005

Vine cultivation in the Molise region was already practiced by the ancient Samnites, who
produced wine and other fermented drinks, having learned the trade from the Greeks and the
Etruscans. It was only in Roman times, however, that vine growing expanded into larger
vineyards.

Though vine growing has had its ups and downs in the history of this region, the particularly
favorable climate has contributed to establishing an interesting wine culture. The mid 1900s
represent an important period for the Molise wine industry, as it was at that time that
vitiviniculture was widely abandoned inland and expanded in the areas closer to the coastline.

To this days, the Molise wine industry still have critical aspects, such as the low percentage of
DOC and IGT wine production and the use of outdated cultivation techniques, which are based
mostly on antiquated regional production choices. That said though, we must point out that
current trends indicates a shift toward the re-qualification of the whole vine and winemaking
sector, starting with the choice of vine clones and growing techniques. In fact, a series of
regional initiatives aimed at improving the quality of the fruit, is currently taking place, from
updating the production process, to offering local vintners technical and marketing tools. In
addition, pressed ever more by the need to mesure up to the quality level of other Italian wine
making regions, the Molise administration is preparing to support local producers with seminars
that teaches them the latest growing and wine making techniques.

The Molise vineyards currently amount to 7,650 hectares (slightly over 18,900 acres), with most
production in the province of Campobasso. Among the red vines, the most cultivated are
Montepulciano and Sangiovese, and in lesser quantity Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and
Aglianico. The white vines include Trebbiano, Falanghina, Fiano, Bombino Bianco, Chardonnay,
Pinot Bianco, Greco and Moscato Bianco.

The yearly wine production is about 350,000 hectoliters (about 9,246,021 gallons). The DOC
wines account for just 5% of the total, and the IGT's are produced in small amounts as well.
Currently three DOC wines are produced in Molise – Biferno, Molise, or Del Molise and Pentro
d'Isernia, or Pentro – and two IGT's – Osco, or Terre degli Osci, and Rotae.

The Molise, or Del Molise DOC is a 'territorial denomination', and includes the whole region,
considering that the area is fairly small and the soil characteristics are similar across the only two
regional provinces. Important news for this DOC is the recent addition of the Tintilia wine, made
with grapes from the native vines of the same name. This is an interesting vine, worthy of further
development.

The establishing of the Consorzio per la Valorizzazione dei Vini DOC del Molise (Consortium for
the Evaluation of the Molise DOC Wines) in the year 2000, is part of the current improvement of
the regional wine sector. The organization includes 93 members, 14 of whom are founding
partners involved in vine growing, wine production, and bottling of DOC wines. The goals of the
Consortium are the following:

Organization and coordination of production and marketing of the DOCs in order to
protect and promote such wines;
Control and verification that the production rules are being respected by the producers, in
addition to protection against imitation of the denomination, unfair competition, etc.,
defending the interests of the members in all legal issues;
Identification and application of promotional measures which improve both the technical
and marketing aspects of the production, either directly or indirectly.

Among the various initiatives promoted by the Consortium, an important one has been the
constitution of the Strada del Vino del Molise (Molise Wine Roads) project, aimed at organizing
integrated rural tourist packages that involve the whole region. The central core of such
packages is represented by the local wines, followed by the regional specialty foods, the
environment, the culture and history, as well as the generosity and kindness of the people living
and working in this countryside.