Monti is a small estate in the region of Abruzzo. Since its inception, the Monti family winery had been operated by brothers Antonio and Elio until Elio passed away in 2002. The brothers had always been traditionalists in the production of Abruzzo's noble varietal, Montepulciano.   The Monti estate is located near Teranio, approximately 100 miles east of Rome. Here the mix of southern sun and Adriatic winds create prime conditions for the practice of viticulture. They have successfully cultivated the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo grape, a big, berry redolent fruit with moderate in tannin. All Monti wines undergo complete malolactic fermentation and are unfiltered. The red wines are aged in Slavonian oak, but it is bottle aging, not barrel aging that is the key to Montepulciano's greatness.