Summary
Collefrisio is a young, ambitious winery from Abruzzo. In 2004 the childhood friends Amedeo De Luca and Antonio Patricelli – both third-generation winegrowers – founded the estate in the hills near Frisa in the province of Chieti. Today they farm around 35 hectares of vines on three sites, all of it organically. Their aim is wines with a modern personality: fruit-driven and approachable, yet firmly rooted in the region's native grape varieties – above all Montepulciano d'Abruzzo.
History
The story of Collefrisio begins with a friendship. Amedeo De Luca and Antonio Patricelli grew up together in Abruzzo and both come from families that have grown wine for generations. In 2004 they decided to build their own winery, combining their families' experience with a contemporary take on wine.
The foundation was laid by hilltop vineyards near Frisa that previously belonged to the Frisio family. The Italian word 'colle' for hill and the family name gave rise to the name Collefrisio. In the following years further vineyards were added, so that today the estate is spread over three locations. The roles are clearly divided: Amedeo De Luca is responsible for vineyard and cellar as oenologist, while Antonio Patricelli handles sales and export.
Location & Terroir
The winery's home lies in the locality of Piane di Maggio near Frisa, in the hilly hinterland of the province of Chieti between the peaks of the Apennines and the Adriatic coast. This setting is typical of Abruzzo: the proximity to the sea brings mild temperatures and constant air movement, while the mountains to the west encourage cool nights and therefore fresh aromas.
The roughly 35 hectares are spread over three sites:
- Valle del Moro – about 12 hectares
- Giuliano Teatino – about 11 hectares
- Tenuta Morrecine – about 12 hectares, facing south-east at around 170 metres altitude, in the area of Ortona and Tollo
All vineyards are farmed organically. Spreading the holdings across different locations makes it possible to select suitable parcels for each grape variety and each wine line.
Style & Philosophy
Collefrisio explicitly sees itself as a modern and innovative winery. The founders want to make wines with a contemporary personality that appeal to a young, quality-conscious audience – without giving up the connection to the region's historic grape varieties. At the centre is Montepulciano, the most important red variety of Abruzzo, which here delivers juicy, fruit-forward yet structured reds.
For white wines Collefrisio relies on the native varieties Pecorino and Passerina as well as Trebbiano and Falanghina. Alongside them, international and southern Italian varieties such as Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese, Merlot and Primitivo are part of the range; the Primitivo is bottled as IGT Salento. An Appassimento red made from partially dried grapes and a Passerina sparkling wine (Extra Dry) show how broadly the house sets out its style.
Notable Sites & Wines
The range is divided into several lines. Among the best known are:
- In & Out – Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC, approachable and fruity
- Semis – Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC
- Filarè – a line with several single-variety wines
- Vignaquadra – organic line, including Montepulciano, Pecorino, Passerina and Falanghina
- Magnolia – Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo, the region's classic rosé from Montepulciano
- Appassimento – a powerful red blend from dried grapes
- Passerina Extra Dry – a spumante from the native Passerina
The wines are distributed internationally and are sold in the USA, the UK and German-speaking countries, among other markets.
Awards
Collefrisio is regularly mentioned in Italian wine guides such as Gambero Rosso and has won medals at international competitions – in 2025, for example, the winery was among the award-winning producers of the Asia Wine Ratings. Even more than individual prizes, Collefrisio stands for a new generation of Abruzzo wineries that combine organic farming, modern cellar technology and native grape varieties into fairly priced, approachable wines.
