Sagrantino di Montefalco

Sagrantino's history combines ancient traditions, a suitable territory and excellent communication skills: the result is one of the most celebrated red wines in Italy

The origins of the most famous native grape of Umbria are controversial: some believe that the Hitriola named by Pliny the Elder coincides with this grape, but the most reliable version says that it is of Spanish origin and imported by Franciscan monks around the 12th century. In any case, the vineyard of the Monastery of St. Clare in Montefalco, with plants at least 150 years old, is living proof of how this vine is rooted in Umbria's history, a history that often goes hand in hand with that of Christianity.

The specifications for Sagrantino from Montefalco DOCG is one of the few that imposes a pure varietal and requires a minimum aging of 31 months, of which at least 12 must be in wooden barrels. The main feature is the Sagrantino grape is its high tannin content, which is accompanied by robust structure, a high alcoholic content. In some ways, Sagrantino resembles Tannat, the grape at the base of Madiran, the most famous wine of Gascony: like the latter, it is a wine that improves after a reasonable number of years of aging, in order to tame the impetuosity of its tannins and open it up. In any case, it is paired perfectly with meat dishes of rich flavors, perhaps with the sauces typical of Umbrian cuisine.

The Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG also exists in a version Passito, which in reality is the one with the most ancient history: its great concentration and intensity makes it a very versatile dessert wine