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Meet Chiara Ciavolich, The Woman Who Helped Re-Make Abruzzo

Cost: Free

If you’re a serious fan of seriously fascinating wines, you need to get to know the Abruzzo wines of Chiara Ciavolich. Better yet, get to know Chiara herself while she’s here at Chain Bridge Cellars on Thursday, March 19. Just sign up for one of three 45-minute sessions and enjoy tasting five of her wines. It’s free, just RSVP!

When Chiara Ciavolich unexpectedly inherited her father’s winery in 2003, she was just 26. And Abruzzo wine was pretty much all thin, high-cropped, red Montepulciano and thinner, insipid, white Trebbiano. That’s what her father made, too, selling in bulk to private label bottllers working for grocery store chains in northern Italy and Germany. It was sad wine and a money-losing business.

With her mother’s encouragement, Chiara aimed higher. She first created on of Montepluciano’s first serious modern reds, wildly concentrated, French oak-aged, Divus Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. Then, in 2007, she began to develop her calling card – the wines called “Fosso Cancelli,” fermented spontaneously with native yeasts in concrete and clay amphorae. 

As JancisRobinson.com reports, “Since then, Ciavolich has risen to the top of Abruzzo wines thanks to the sheer perseverance and fine-tuning of its current owner.” As you’ll taste for yourself in:

Chiara Ciavolich Pecorino Terre d'Abruzzo Aries 2025

Chiara Ciavolich Pecorino Colline Pescaresi Fosso Cancelli 2022

Chiara Ciavolich Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo Fosso Cancelli 2022

Chiara Ciavolich Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC 2024

Chiara Ciavolich Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Fosso Cancelli 2019

There’s no charge for this free, stand-up, tasting on the main sales floor. Just RSVP for your choice of three start times and enjoy the wines and meeting Chiara.

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