Along Italy’s well-traveled wine routes, Le Marche is a quieter detour. Located on the eastern flank of central Italy along the Adriatic Sea, the region often sees few visitors beyond the Renaissance jewel of Urbino and its coastal resorts. Yet Le Marche has a distinct wine identity: Verdicchio for whites and unexpectedly refined reds that reward those willing to explore beyond the mainstream.
Many of the region’s standout wines come from Umani Ronchi, a family-owned estate founded in the late 1950s and still managed by the Bianchi-Bernetti family. The winery showcases the best expressions of local varieties — Verdicchio for white wines and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo for reds — demonstrating the quality this lesser-known region can achieve.
In the United States, Umani Ronchi’s Verdicchio is often labeled Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi. The Casal di Serra Classico Superiore (about $17) displays a straw-yellow hue, lively fruit character, floral aromatics and a silky mouthfeel. Vecchie Vigne Casal di Serra Verdicchio (around $35), produced in limited quantities from vines older than 40 years, offers a brighter yellow color, crisp acidity and an elegant profile with ripe-melon aromas and a medium-long finish. Plenio (approximately $35) is a riserva whose name derives from the Latin plenum, reflecting its fuller, more complex style; it blends richness and roundness with fresh acidity and the structure to age gracefully.
The estate’s red wines rely primarily on Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, a dark-skinned grape widely planted across central and southern Italy — unrelated to the Tuscan town of Montepulciano. One notable example is Cúmaro (about $42), a 100 percent Montepulciano that shows deep color, pronounced black-fruit aromas lifted by a hint of black pepper, and soft, well-managed tannins from carefully selected vineyards in the historic Conero area. Pelago (roughly $65) is a more elaborate blend of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo with Cabernet Sauvignon and about 10 percent Merlot; it delivers depth, intensity and complexity. The 2007 vintage is often cited as a particularly successful expression of the winery’s style.
Umani Ronchi’s lineup illustrates how Le Marche can produce both vibrant, food-friendly white wines and compelling, age-worthy reds. For wine drinkers seeking variety beyond Italy’s headline appellations, the region and this producer offer rewarding discoveries that combine regional character with thoughtful winemaking.