Cònero DOCG is red wine denomination from the Monte Cònero promontory in Le Marche, a region on the Adriatic coast of Italy. It comes from exactly the same production area as Rosso Cònero DOC. Cònero DOCG was the new name given to what was previously Rosso Cònero’s riserva iteration whose last vintage was 2003. Cònero DOCG follows Rosso Cònero DOC in being made from the same blend of 85-100% Montepulciano, with an optional 0-15% Sangiovese. The Sangiovese was used historically to thin out Montepulciano’s often dense reds, or to provide fruit to Montepulciano base wines rendered austere from having green pips due to high yields. Cònero DOCG can be released 2 years after harvest, starting from 01st November in the year of harvest. Oak ageing is not mandatory. A book dating from 1812 by Abbott Geogofilo (in the library at the Malacari winery) offers suggestions such as lower yields to improve the wines in Ancona province.
Wine style: Ian D’Agata (2019, p.152) says that ‘in the Marche’s limestone- rich Cònero area [the Montepulciano grape] can give massively structured wines of some interest,’ (Ian d’Agata, 2019, p.152).
Viticulture: Minimum 3,330 vines/ha for new vineyards.
Production zone: See Rosso Cònero DOC.
Production: 2018 7,045hl (43 producers overall, 32 grape growers, 24 wine producers, 16 bottlers). 261,000 bottles. | 2017 8,148hl. 325,000 bottles. | 2016 8,648 hl. 379,000 bottles. | 2010 6,733hl. | 2009 6,070hl. | 2008 6,905hl. | 2007 6,446hl. | 2006 4,576hl.
Wineries
Certified organic: | Malacari. | Moroder.
No certification: Garofoli. | Serenelli. | Strologo. | Umani Ronchi.
Bibliography
Attilio Scienza & Serena Imazio, Native Grape Odyssey Vol. 1, p200 (Positive Press, 2019), p199.
Burton Anderson, The Wine Atlas of Italy, Mitchell Beazley, 1990 p173.
Dr Ian d’Agata, Native Wine Grapes of Italy (University of California Press, 2014).
Dr Ian d’Agata, Native Wine Grape Terroirs (University of California Press, 2019).
Production data: 2006-2010 Federdoc as reported by I Numeri del Vino. 2016-2018 Valoritalia.