Serrapetrona is a name generally associated with the sparkling red wines sold as Vernaccia di Serrapetrona, but it is a DOC in its own right, producing still wines from the same Vernaccia Nera grape which is used to make their more famous sparkling counterparts. Vernaccia Nera is also the variety at the heart of San Ginesio, which covers both still and sparkling styles. The Serrapetrona DOC was introduced in August 2004 and revised in June 2010.
Serrapetrona is a village located at the very foot of the Apennine Mountains in the Marche region. It sits at an altitude of approximately 1500ft (460m), although the undulating topography which characterizes the local landscape means this is not necessarily an accurate guide to the height of the Serrapetrona vineyards.
The viticultural heritage of this part of Marche is overshadowed somewhat by the fame of the white Verdicchio wines made just to the north: Verdicchio di Matelica and Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi. Over the past few decades, the vagaries of consumer preference have not favored sweet, sparkling reds like those made around Serrapetrona, even if they do boast full DOCG status (the various Lambruscos of Emilia-Romagna have fared little better). This has left Serrapetrona as a sort of obscure hanger-on, a wine which rather missed the boat, like the Coteaux Champenois still wines of Champagne.
