Tenuta Ulisse

From grandfather's vineyard to a modern winery in Crecchio

The Ulisse family's viticulture dates back to the early 20th century, when grandfather Don Antonio planted the first vines in Crecchio — a hillside village southeast of Chieti in the Abruzzo region. What was intended for local sale back then laid the foundation for everything that followed. In 2006, brothers Antonio and Luigi Ulisse founded Tenuta Ulisse as an independent winery, took over the inherited vineyards, and began shaping them into a serious quality project. The first 36,000 bottles of the 2006 vintage were released in 2007 — and were met with immediate acclaim. What started as a family initiative is today one of the most prominent estates in the Abruzzo wine scene.

Cryogenic shock, hand-picking, and a castle as a maturation cellar

The heart of the work at Tenuta Ulisse is the so-called Ulisse method: inspired by ice wine, the harvested grapes are treated cryogenically immediately after picking. The rapid cooling under controlled conditions is intended to preserve the aromatic integrity of the berries and transfer the aromas directly into the wine. This process is complemented by selective hand-picking in small crates, refrigerated transport, and precise selection in the cellar. A remarkable detail: some of the barriques mature in the historic Castello Ducale of Crecchio, a medieval castle that served as a refuge for the Italian royal family during the Second World War and now houses a museum. The 55 hectares of vineyards are spread across different sites — around Crecchio and Lanciano inland, as well as around Ortona on the Adriatic coast. Limestone and clay soils with a tuff subsoil, maritime influence, and cooling Apennine winds ensure slow, even ripening.

Indigenous varieties, structured red wines, aromatic white wines

The range focuses on the classic grape varieties of Abruzzo: Montepulciano d'Abruzzo forms the backbone of the red line — powerful, with dark fruit, spice, and firm tannins that gain depth with longer maturation. The Amaranta is the best-known representative of this category, also available as a 1.5-liter magnum. Alongside it are white wines made from Pecorino, Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, Passerina, and the rare Cococciola — fresh, aromatic, with lively acidity. A special rarity is the DIECI VENDEMMIE, a blend of ten different vintages of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, which documents the vertical depth of the sites. With the MASSERI Primitivo, the winery shows that international grape varieties can also ripen convincingly in Abruzzo. The horse in the logo — designed by Italian artist Gino Masciarelli — is programmatic for the house's ambition: movement, energy, and regional roots all in one.