Montepulciano is produced in all four provinces of Abruzzo--L'Aquila, Chieti, Pescara and Teramo—with the southern province of Chieti producing the largest total quantity of wine. The mountainous province of L'Aquila is noted mainly for the dry rosé labeled as Cerasuolo produced in the DOC. The most favorable vineyards are planted in the northern provinces of Pescara and Teramo with the later having its own DOCG designation above Montepulciano d'Abruzzo.
Montepulciano Grapes

These northern provinces benefit from having less fertile soils with more ferrous clay and limestone mix and higher elevations as the Apennines draw closer to the Adriatic. This creates cooler microclimates that tend to produce more concentrated wine.