There's a place in the Marche region where the sea and the mountains collide, just steps away from each other. It's called Conero—a limestone promontory jutting into the Adriatic between Numana and Sirolo, protected as a National Park and celebrated throughout Europe for the wild beauty of its white cliffs. But those who truly know Conero know that this area hides a second, less visible but equally extraordinary treasure: its red wine.
Rosso Conero DOC: a wine with character
Rosso Conero is a Controlled Designation of Origin (DOC) produced exclusively in the Monte Conero area of the Marche region. Its main grape variety is Montepulciano—not the famous Tuscan Vino Nobile, but Montepulciano d'uva, a native grape of central Italy that finds its most elegant and complex expression in this corner of the Adriatic.
To obtain the Rosso Conero DOC, the wine must be made with at least 95% Montepulciano grapes, grown in a limited and specific geographical area. This strict rule is designed to protect the identity of a unique territory.
Why Conero is different from everything else
The secret of Rosso Conero lies in the unique encounter between three elements: the soil, the climate, and the sea.
The promontory's calcareous-clay soil lends the wine a deep minerality and a freshness few Italian reds can match. The climate is Mediterranean, tempered by the constant breeze from the Adriatic, which slows the ripening of the grapes and preserves Montepulciano's natural acidity. Finally, the sea is more than just a landscape—it is a tangible presence, shaping each vintage with its saline humidity and temperature variations.
The result is a red wine that is both powerful and refined. Tannic but not astringent, fruity but not banal, capable of aging gracefully or being enjoyed in its vibrant youth.
How to recognize a great Rosso Conero
Rosso Conero displays an intense ruby red color, often with purple highlights in younger versions. On the nose, the aromatic profile is dominated by red fruit—wild cherry, blueberry, plum—with spicy notes of black pepper and, in more elaborate versions, hints of leather and tobacco that emerge with aging.
On the palate, it's savory, fresh, and persistent. The tannic structure is present but well-integrated, freshness is its distinctive signature, and the long, spicy finish is what makes it memorable.
Count Leopardi's Rosso Conero
At the Conte Leopardi winery in Numana, Rosso Conero is interpreted in two distinct ways, each capable of expressing a different facet of this extraordinary territory.
Fructus is the Rosso Conero of hospitality—modern, fruity, with soft tannins and an immediate drinkability that makes it the perfect companion for any occasion. Aged in stainless steel to preserve all the freshness of Montepulciano, it's a wine to uncork without ceremony, to share generously.
Casirano , on the other hand, is the Rosso Conero of silence and patience—produced only in the finest years, with late harvests and manual selection of the grapes, and aged in barriques and then in bottle. A wine that demands time and evokes emotion.
Two expressions, one territory. The Conero, in all its character.
How to pair Rosso Conero at the table
Rosso Conero is a powerful table wine that loves the company of bold flavors. Rich roasts of red meat, slow-cooked braised meats, game, and aged cheeses are its natural pairings. But don't underestimate its versatility: in its younger, fruitier versions, like Fructus, it also pairs beautifully with a generous platter of cured meats and cheeses from central Italy.
The ideal serving temperature is between 16° and 18°C. For more structured versions like Casirano, a few minutes of decanting before serving always makes a difference.
Discover our Rosso Conero DOC wines— Casirano and Fructus —with free shipping in Italy on orders over €150.