Giro d’Italia 2025 Stage 7: Into the Apennine Mountains We Go!

But first, a look at what transpired on Thursday:

It wasn’t pretty.

Here’s the highlight reel from the Giro’s YouTube channel, which explains everything.

Roglic and his aspirations to win the final Maglia Rosa took a hit – a big one. With Jai Hindley out of the race, the remaining RedBull Bora Hansgrohe riders have no room for errors or illness. They must unite around the common purpose of escorting their leader safely to the finish on Stage 21. They have strength and talent.

They will also need a healthy dose of luck. (I’ve got my fingers crossed!)

Here’s what awaits the peloton on Friday:

We have our first summit finish, with lots of terrible climbs to precede it. A blissful day for the true climbers, Stage 7 will torture just about everyone else. GC contenders must remain vigilant against attacks, which could come at any time. Proper nutrition and hydration will also be factors, especially toward the end of the race.

I’m here for all of it!

Spectator Sipping Recommendation: Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo

The course takes us through the heart of Abruzzo, where Montepulciano grapes are fermented into powerful red wines and deeply colored Rosati (called Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo.)

Montepulciano grapes can be difficult to grow because the bunches tend to ripen unevenly. They also take longer to achieve phenolic ripeness, which allows the seeds to fully mature, thus avoiding unpleasant bitter notes in the wine. A long growing season helps with that, although the grower must also guard against excessive sugar accumulation in the grapes. It’s a delicate balance.

High levels of anthocyanins in the grape skins result in deeply colored wines, whether red or rosato. Indeed, some Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo Rosati look more like red wines!

Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC Rules (Thanks, Italian Wine Central!)

Must be at least 85% Montepulciano
Superiore wines must be at least 90% Montepulciano and come from one of the approved subzones (Colline Pescaresi; Colline Teramane; Terre Aquilane; Terre di Chieti)
Minimum 12% abv for Rosato; 12.5% for Superiore
Aged at least two months for Rosato; at least five months for Superiore
Earliest release date December 1 after harvest for Rosato; April 1 for Superiore

A Few Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo Wines to Try

I sampled these wines last month during the Slow Wine USA event in NYC (all were from the 2023 vintage; all labeled at 14% abv). As you can see, they were also deeply pigmented, varying from pink-magenta to crimson red. And quite full-bodied, too, compared to Provençal-style rosés. But I think the extra structure and body expand the possible food-pairing options: maybe grilled steak, wild game, or aged cheeses. I did manage to try the Cantina Terzini wine with food: chicken thighs marinated in a spicy, soy concoction. Absolutely delish!

Torre dei Beati

My take: Elegant! This wine deserves a proper accompaniment: I’d suggest grilled pork chops topped with arugula, strawberries, and a simple vinaigrette.