These twin regions stretch between for 185 kilometres along the Adriatic coast between Marche in the north and Puglia in the south. The centre of the region is dominated by the Apennines, which slope down towards the sea in innumerable river valleys. The total area under vine comes to approximately 50,000 hectares. The main production zones are around the provincial towns of Pescara, Aquila, Chieti and Teramo. Formerly dedicated for the most part to the cultivation of table grapes, the vineyards of the region have been converted in recent years to specialised wine production.

The leading white varietals are Trebbiano d'Abruzzo and Malvasia while the most important red grapes are Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Sangiovese and Cerasuolo. Montepulciano and Trebbiano have become the standard bearers of a region whose top quality wines are now rightly considered to occupy a place alongside those of Italy's most famous production zones. Current output is around 4 million hectolitres a year.