The story
In the heart of Montorio al Vomano, Cotto d’Amore is a family-run wine bar and producer helmed by Alessandra and her mother, Maria Rosa. Their craft centers on traditional vino cotto—a labor-intensive reduced must that re-ferments into wine and is aged for 15 to 25 years. This patient, generational approach yields a product that creators at *Where The Foodies Go* call “one of the best on the planet.”
Beyond the revered vino cotto—available in named bottlings like Isabella and San Rocco—the menu features the regional Bocconotto Montoriese. Visitors should also seek out Magus, a gentian-based spirit that the same creators described as “almost therapeutic.” Cotto d’Amore offers an authentic, intimate taste of Abruzzo’s culinary heritage, backed by decades of aging and devotion.
Synthesised by AI from every creator’s review. First reviewed 2024.
Most-loved dishes
AI summary of what 6 dish mentions say about the food
“Magus is a gentian root left to rest in vino cotto, without added alcohol and without added sugar. As my pharmacist friend Gianna says, it's almost therapeutic — if we need to cure ourselves, this is it. It's the legacy my father left us, and Magus bears his name because Magus comes from 'Maun' — my father was Maun, a 'magone' (a big stomach).”
What creators say
1 creator has covered Cotto d'Amore. Most active: Where The Foodies Go
- Where The Foodies GoLoved
Montorio al Vomano e Rocca S. Maria: bocconotti, vino cotto e funghi - Viaggio In Abruzzo - Ep. 36 · @ 25:00
Cotto d'Amore is a family-run producer of vino cotto in Montorio al Vomano, run by Alessandra and her mother Maria Rosa. Their vino cotto is one of the best on the planet — a reduced must that re-ferments into wine, aged for 15-25 years. The gentian-based Magus is almost therapeutic. A true local treasure.
Dishes mentioned
Vino Cotto Isabella
This is Isabella, named after the granddaughter who turns 25 this year. It ages in barrels that are Isabella's — one of the founding traditions of vino cotto is that grandparents pass it directly to grandchildren, skipping the parents. The grandfather started Isabella's barrels when she was born. It's dangerous because it goes down beautifully — it tastes of caramel, a little bit of licorice. Really good.
Vino Cotto San Rocco
San Rocco is slightly younger, about 15 years old, always from white grapes. We dedicated it to the patron saint of Montorio al Vomano.
Vino Cotto Cotto d'Amore
This is the red grape vino cotto, Cotto d'Amore, with 15 years of aging. Less caramel-like, more on the strong side, more masculine. Since I can hold back my pronounced masculinity, as you can tell from my Dragon Ball shirt — both products are red even if they start from white grapes because the cooking of the must allows the must itself to brown.
Magus
Magus is a gentian root left to rest in vino cotto, without added alcohol and without added sugar. As my pharmacist friend Gianna says, it's almost therapeutic — if we need to cure ourselves, this is it. It's the legacy my father left us, and Magus bears his name because Magus comes from 'Maun' — my father was Maun, a 'magone' (a big stomach).
- Bocconotto Montoriese
