Fattoria La Valentina, founded in 1990 by Sabatino Di Properzio, is located in Spoltore on the central Adriatic coast. In recent years several artisan producers have arrived on the scene and are turning out top quality wines from Abruzzo’s indigenous Montepulciano and Trebbiano varietals. La Valentina is at the forefront of this movement. Following initial and extensive viticultural research, Di Properzio began promoting Abruzzese DOCs of the highest quality. Two major developments in 1998 supported this goal – initiating the Binomio project with Stefano Inama and hiring Luca D’Attoma as winemaker. While taking a very traditional approach to farming and employing organic and biodynamic farming methods, Di Properzio also uses current technology, ensuring the fruit’s integrity from grape to glass. The soil is made up of clays, clay-calcareous marls, usually loose and medium-grade sandstone. The Spoltore hillside vineyard, near the Adriatic Sea, is southsouthwest facing – 5 acres of Trebbiano and 12½ of Montepulciano vines were planted 27 years ago and Spelt and Bellovedere are produced from this vineyard. The 10 acre Binomio vineyard, planted entirely with Montepulciano, is located in Abruzzo Citeriore at 1,640 ft. above sea level. The unique features of the region’s microclimate, combined with vines well-suited to the land, give the wines their distinctive qualities.