Molise
The mountainous area of Molise is a small wine region located in the southern part of Central Italy. Its neighbours include Abruzzo and Lazio to the north and Campania and Puglia to the south. Although wines have been made in Molise as far back as 500 BC, it only became a wine region in its own right in the 1980s after gaining two DOCs, Biferno and Pentro di Isernia, and then in 1998 the Molise del Molise DOC. Both Biferno and Pentro di Isernia produce reds, whites and roses. The white wine blends comprise mainly of Trebbiano Toscano with smaller proportions of Bombino, whilst Montepulciano is the main component for reds combined with Aglianico and Trebbiano Toscano. Pentro di Isernia red blends consist of a Montepulciano and Sangiovese mix. Vineyards in the region cover approximately 9,500 hectares, producing around 400,000 hectolitres a year, of which only 2% is DOC. Most of the region's wine is consumed locally.