The vast area of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo was awarded the DOC classification in 1968. It covers the entire eastern half of the Abruzzo region, stretching 75 miles (120km) down the central east coast of Italy. The western half of Abruzzo is too mountainous for effective viticulture, so Montepulciano d’Abruzzo wines come mostly from the low hills, plains, and the coast between the Colline Teramane hills in the north (near the Marche border) and the Rio Sangro in the south (at the Molise border).