Italy — wine

Offida DOCG

Offida DOCG in the Marche region of central Italy is the canonical home of the ancient Pecorino grape variety — a high-acid, aromatic white that thrives on the hill-top calcareous clay soils of the Ascoli Piceno province. Once nearly extinct, Pecorino was rescued by local growers in the 1980s and now produces wines of remarkable freshness, body, and aromatic complexity. The DOCG also covers Passerina whites and Rosso Piceno Superiore reds, but it is the white Pecorino that has attracted international attention.

Year Rating Notes
2023 Fresh, aromatic, with excellent natural acidity — Pecorino's citrus and white flower aromatics shone in near-perfect ripening conditions
2022 A cool spring preserved acidity; summer heat ripened Pecorino to full aromatic expression without losing the characteristic citrus-driven freshness — a textbook vintage
2021 Good balance year with expressive stone fruit character and fine acidity; Pecorino showed the mineral depth of calcareous clay soils
2020 Warm vintage produced full-bodied Pecorinos with generous texture; acidity slightly lower but aromatics were intense