Montepulciano has long lived in the shadow of its more famous Tuscan cousin, Sangiovese. A bit fruitier and generally lower in acidity than Sangiovese, the more southern wine of Abruzzo is perhaps also less pretentious and easier to enjoy. Directly east of Rome, Abruzzo is close to the eastern Adriatic coast of Italy and produces vivacious, deeply colored reds full of fresh, dark fruit with soft tannins.

Anfra is a relatively young winery, especially by Italian standards. The Savini family bought its first vineyards in 1968, made its first wine in 1997 and released its first vintage under the Anfra label in 2002. “Dedication to the earth” has been this venture’s motto from the beginning, and that dedication shines through in its top-ranked Montepulciano.