The wine road known as Colline del Ducato winds its way through the hilly territories of the province of Teramo, once part of the duchy of Acquaviva of Atri. Today these lands boast a blooming grape-growing and wine-making activity that has resulted in 1992 in two Docs: Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and Trebbiano d'Abruzzo.

The starting-point of the road is Giulianova, an important seaside resort and centre of primary importance for the fish industry. The upper part of the town hosts artistic works of remarkable value, like the Cathedral of St. Flaiano (1470) and the Friary of the Capuchin friars, whereas its outskirts, abounding in vineyards, are scattered with small farms where it is possible to buy good white Trebbiano wines.

After Mosciano Sant'Angelo, an industrious small town placed on a hill close to Giulianova, one reaches Notaresco (centre noteworthy for the production of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo), which has developed around its interesting Civitello (fortified citadel).

The road then turns towards the sea where it reaches Roseto Degli Abruzzi, locality with a double vocation: modern seaside resort on the coast, and wine-growing centre on the inland hills. At about ten kilometres from Roseto, the fraction of Montepagano, known for the fair of typical regional wines held between July and August, sits on a beautiful terrace looking out over the sea and offers visitors the interesting Museum of its ancient peasant civilization.

Further down southwards on the state road Adriatica No. 16 one reaches Pineto, another lively productive fulcrum of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo in the two versions Rosso and Cerasuolo. At Pineto the wine road continues inland, where the characteristic clayey formations, known with the name of "calanchi", announce one's arrival to pretty Atri. With its truly ancient origins and its numerous medieval and Renaissance structures, Atri is one of the most important historical and artistic centres of the Abruzzo region. This town reached its maximum splendour under the lineage of Acquaviva who reigned there until the end of 1700. Well worth a visit is the Cathedral of S. Maria Assunta, superb example of medieval architecture that holds the frescoes of the choir of Andrea de Litio (1450), considered the greatest pictorial cycle of Abruzzo Renaissance.