marche
Picture-perfect region in the heart of the peninsula
Marche, Verdicchio and much more
Italians will often tell you that Le Marche ranks among the regions with the best quality of life in the country. It’s not hard to understand why: the region is a treasure trove of artistic and natural beauty, with picture-perfect towns scattered among rolling hills that separate the Apennines from the Adriatic coast, often flanked by vineyards and olive groves.
- Area: 9.401 km2 (15th out of 20)
- Mountain: 31%
- Hill: 69%
- Highest peak: Monte Vettore (2.476 mt)
- Population: 1.484.298 (2,5%)
- Provinces: Ascoli Piceno, Fermo, Macerata, Ancona, Pesaro e Urbino
- River valleys define the landscape of the Marche region, flanked by rolling hills that house vineyards and orchards.
- he imposing Conero mountain stands in the middle of the mostly flat Adriatic coast of the Marche. Its cliffs dive into the sea, shaping an awe-inspiring landscape.
- Verdicchio enjoyed commercial success early on thanks to a cunning intuition of Fazi Battaglia, a pioneering producer that adopted eye-catching, amphora-shaped bottles. Such bottles became easily recognizable and fostered the international success of Verdicchio in the 1970s and 1980s
- The Matelica valley is the only valley in the Central Apennine running north to south instead of east to west. With no sea in sight, it has a continental climate with extreme diurnal swings.
- 55% of the production is white wine and 45% is red and rosè.
insights
Marche Travel Guide
Where is Marche located?
Stretching from the central Apennine to the east coast of Italy, the Marche region faces the Adriatic sea. The surface of this region is mostly hilly and mountainous, with expanses of vineyards flanking river valleys.
Why is Marche called Marche?
The name “Marche” derives from the Germanic word “mark,” meaning “border.” The region was named this way because it marked one of the borders of the Holy Roman Empire.
What to see in the Marche?
- Urbino: the hometown of renaissance artist Raffaello, housing architectural landmarks such as the Ducal Palace with the “Città Ideale” (ideal city) painting.
- Monte Conero: Spectacular rocky cliffs on the Adriatic coast.
- Ascoli Piceno: a charming medieval town.
- Loreto: Basilica della Santa Casa, an important pilgrimage site.
- Frasassi Caves: One of the largest and most fascinating cave complexes in Europe.
- Ancona: medieval Cathedral of San Ciriaco and one of the largest harbors of the Adriatic coast.
- Pesaro: the hometown of famous composer Gioacchino Rossini.
- Macerata: The Sferisterio arena, famous for concerts and operas.
- Monti Sibillini National Park: Hiking and awe-inspiring landscapes.
- Recanati: the hometown of renowned poet Giacomo Leopardi.
- Jesi: the hometown of Emperor Frederick II, also housing Palazzo Pianetti, a late-baroque wonder.
What are the traditional dishes of the Marche?
Olive all’ascolana (fried olives stuffed with meat) are the standard-bearers of the cuisine of Le Marche around the globe.
Other renowned dishes include Vincisgrassi, a regional variant of Lasagne from Emilia Romagna with chicken giblets, and pollo in potacchio (roasted chicken with tomatoes and rosemary).
The town of San Benedetto del Tronto in Southern Marche houses one of Italy’s largest fish markets, so fresh seafood is the main ingredient in many recipes. Each coastal town has a different take on the Adriatic brodetto (fish soup).
Moving to the Apennine, Sopravvissana sheeps have tender meats perfect for roasting, and also give milk for fresh and aged sheep cheese.
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Grapes in Marche
While Verdicchio leads the scene in Central Marche, thriving in the Castelli di Jesi and Matelica areas, Montepulciano takes center stage in southern Marche and in the Conero area, and Sangiovese and Bianchello (Trebbiano) are widely grown in the Metauro area. International grapes area grown throughout the region, and give a few good to excellent wines.
What are the Grape Varieties of the Marche?
Pecorino: the other key white variety, Pecorino grows in the Monti Sibillini and Offida areas, close to the border with Abruzzo. Floral and slightly herbal, it gives bright and refreshing whites with good aging potential.
Lacrima: The indigenous Lacrima grape is almost exclusively found in the township of Morro d’Alba: it gives medium-bodied, low-tannin and distinctively aromatic red wines redolent of red roses and sweet red fruits, sometimes with a whiff of dried herbs and spice.
Vernaccia Nera di Serrapetrona: another aromatic grape, often employed in the production of sweet or off-dry sparkling red wines.
Key red grapes: Widespread red varieties include Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Bordò, a local biotype of Grenache, produces full-bodied reds in the province of Ascoli Piceno (Southern Marche).
Bianchello del Metauro: a biotype of Trebbiano Toscano grown in Northern Marche, Bianchello gives fresh and zesty whites.
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Le Marche Wine Areas
- Hectares under vine: 13,911 (2021)
- Total production: 1.40 million hectoliters (2021)
- Percentage of DOC/DOCG production: 37%
- Average vineyard altitude: 350-450 meters
- Number of DOCGs: 5
Immense differences between the various territories comprised within the region are the reason why the name “Le Marche” is plural. Marca means, in fact, border land, and it comes as no surprise that the north and south of the region have many affinities with bordering territories- respectively the Romagna region and the Colline Teramane area in Abruzzo.
What are the main Wine-growing areas of Le Marche?
- Castelli di Jesi: the largest wine-growing area in Le Marche, stretching along the banks of the Misa and Esino rivers, and producing Lacrima di Morro d’Alba and Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi. The “Classico” mention for Verdicchio refers to the wines coming from the historical production area within the valley and Riserva hints at longer aging (18 months).
- Matelica: a smaller wine district lying further away from the coast and specializing in Verdicchio di Matelica.
- Conero: his hilly mountainous coastal area produces Rosso Coneri, a bold and savory Montepulciano – Sangiovese blend.
- Piceno: the southern portion of the region, bordering Abruzzo, Piceno produces Rosso Piceno, bold, savory, and slightly earthy Montepulciano-based reds with dollops of Sangiovese, Bordò, and Offida Pecorino (white wine).
- Serrapetrona:
- Metauro: in the north of the region, the banks of the Metauro river house vineyards planted to Bianchello and Sangiovese, the latter giving easy-drinking reds with some similarities to examples found across the northern border in Romagna.
Which are the main Denominations of Le Marche?
The list of DOCGs in the Marche:
- Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva
- Conero
- Offida
- Verdicchio di Matelica Riserva
- Vernaccia di Serrapetrona
Key DOC:
- Rosso Piceno
- Bianchello del Metauro
- Lacrima di Morro d’Alba
- Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi
- Verdicchio di Matelica
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Wineries in the Marche
What are the most important Wineries in the Marche?
In the aftermath of World War II, large cooperatives or private wineries led the transition from bulk to bottled wine production. These large players are still very important, but in the past three decades, small producers have also gained prominence: today they are the driving force in the region, crafting characterful wines that rank among wine geeks’ favorites.
Most wineries in Molise are small and not especially renowned. These are the three producers who grabbed the most attention throughout the last decades:
Big Wineries
- Belisario
- Fazi Battaglia
- Garofoli
- Moncaro
- Umani Ronchi
- Velenosi
Cult Wineries
- Bisci
- Bucci
- Cocci Grifoni
- Fattoria Coroncino
- Fattoria La Monascesca
- Fattoria Le Terrazze
- Il Pollenza
- Oasi degli Angeli
- Sartarelli
- Stefano Antonucci
Up-and-Coming Wineries
- Andrea Felici
- Borgo Paglianetto
- Buscareto
- Casalfarneto
- Crespaia
- Fattoria Mancini
- Fontezoppa
- La Staffa
- Le Caniette
- Marotti Campi
- Tenuta di Tavignano
Natural Wine Wineries
- Col di Corte
- Di Giulia
- Fattoria San Lorenzo
- La Distesa
- La Marca di San Michele
- Valter Mattoni
- Vigneti Vallorani
Wine areas
The Marche wine region, with vineyards spanning four provinces, encompasses 13 DOC zones, five DOCG zones, and one IGT designation, resulting in a robust total wine production of around 1.6 million hectoliters.
Grapes
Marche's top red wines shine with Montepulciano and Sangiovese grapes, crafting the fragrant Rosso Conero Riserva, complemented by Ciliegiolo, Pinot Nero, Lacrima di Morro, and notably, Vernaccia Nera
Wineries
The Marche wine region stands out due to its varied climate and terrain, creating an ideal setting for wine production.
Travel
Le Marche Region: A Hidden Gem Awaits. Explore a Delightful Landscape Adorned with Charming Medieval Towns and Hilltop Villages
marche
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