Gianni Masciarelli and his wife Marina Cvetic are among the shining beacons of Abruzzo. For years, this beautiful land, with its abundance of sun, great soil and the easy-to-grow Montepulciano grape, had wallowed in mediocrity as scores of producers were clearly taking advantage of what was given to them. Gianni, along with his inspiration, the reclusive genius Edoardo Valentini, proved to the rest of the world, through hard work, low yields, and a desire to be the best, that Abruzzo and the Montepulciano grape could produce world-class wines.
Sadly, Gianni passed away in August 2008 aged 53, he is survived by his wife and his three young children.
Amongst the lengthy list of accolades won by Masciarelli, the most significant was probably the 2004 Gambero Rosso “Producer of the Year” award.
" Bright, vibrant deep, velvety garnet colour. Earth, farmyard, dark fruits of the forest, plum and plum skin at first; then with air, dark cherry, old leather, smoked bacon and a touch of beewax. Dry, with medium to full body. Real depth of character, structure and class, especially given the price. Punches well above its weight, excellent."
"The passing of Gianni Masciarelli in 2008 left a huge void in the world of Italian wine. To be honest, I haven’t always been the biggest fan of Masciarelli’s wines but his contributions to the oenological landscape in Abruzzo are irrefutable. Most importantly of all, he aimed for, and often achieved, a level of quality that inspired other producers to follow suit." Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
