Sipping a delicious red the other night from Umbria, in
central Italy, brought back memories of a most enjoyable trip to Italy’s “green
heart”. Discovering pretty hilltop towns steeped in history such as Assisi and Narni was an enriching experience.
When you think of wines from this area, the name that automatically springs to mind is Orvieto, a
town renowned for its white wines. However, Umbria is now claiming its
position on the map for its reds.
If you are the type that likes their wines robust and
complex seek out ones made from the sagrantino grape found around Montefalco.
Facing extinction in the 1960s, thanks to investment, this grape which is
naturally loaded with tannins has had something of a renaissance. More
winemakers are springing up since the area was awarded DOCG status (the highest
classification for Italian wines in 1992),
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| Discovering pretty hilltop towns steeped in history |
I went for a tasting at Cantina Goretti – this family-owned
winery is a must if you are near Perguia. Although there was a mix of whites
and reds to tempt the palate, the star of the show had to be the Sagrantino di
Montefalco DOCG. Made from only sagrantino
grapes, it explodes with flavours of blackberries, plums and raspberries. This
should please even those with incredibly sophisticated palettes.
The other grape that has sparked interest in recent years is
sangiovese. Once associated with cheap Italian reds, this main grape of central
Italian reds produces wines that go down a treat. It is quite a difficult grape
to get right. Often it is blended with cabernet sauvignon which gives the wine
a certain richness. Sometimes merlot
is added to the mix to take the edge of
the acidity.
At the Valle di Assisi, a delightful hotel just outside
Assisi, I savoured Recanto
Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009, Vendemmia which came from its own vineyard.
If you are not off to Umbria soon, you can sample its wines
in the UK. Here are a couple which I can recommend.
Sagrantino di Montefalco, 2010, Milziade Antano, Umbria,
Berry Bros. & Rudd, (bbr.com,) £35
This superb wine packs a powerful punch yet it is silky
smooth on the palette. Described by Berry Bros. Italian wine expert, David
Berry Green, as the essence of Umbrian sagrantino, this spicy number unravels lip-smacking
plummy tangs. With
one sip you will appreciate the calibre.
Montefalco Rosso, 2010, Fattoria di Antano, Umbria, Berry
Bros. & Rudd, (bbr.com,) £19.95
Laced with raspberries, this is a zingy wine with hardly any
noticeable tannins. This impressive creation that is redolent of Umbria will
seduce you from the first taste.
By Daralyn Danns
By Daralyn Danns
For further information about tours and tastings in Umbria
visit www.vinigoretti.com
For further information about Valle di Assisi, visit http://www.vallediassisi.com/en
