Get to Know Sagrantino
There are few better ways to savor the different styles of Sagrantino than to visit its wineries along the Strada del Sagrantino, a route with increasing buzz in wine tourism. On February 19 and 20, 2018, Sagrantino producers will release their latest DOCG vintage from 2014, but any time of year (certain holidays excepted) is good to sample the wine and the special flavors of Umbrian cuisine. Here are seven wineries to visit now.
ARNALDO CAPRAI
Arnaldo Caprai, a textile manufacturer, began producing Sagrantino wine in the 1970s. His son Marco has been a key player in the wine’s development and integral to its current renown. “We create Sagrantino wines that are meant for aging, and we want to keep it our point of strength,” says Marco Caprai. Contact: tour@arnaldocaprai.it, 39.0742.378.802, arnaldocapraiusa.com
LUNGAROTTI GROUP
Giorgio Lungarotti helped put Umbrian wines on the map. Today his daughters, Chiara and Teresa, run the company, which produces a wide range of red and white wines, along with Sagrantino. “In 1999 we decided to take our first step out of Torgiano and headed to Montefalco, instead of other Italian areas as many of our producer friends and competitors did,” says Chiara Lungarotti. The family also owns the exclusive Le Tre Vaselle resort and other posh properties. A variety of vineyard packages, including full-day and half-day tours and overnight stays, are available. Contact: welcome@lungarotti.it, 39.075.988.661, lungarotti.it/eng/visit/
CANTINE ADANTI
This award-winning vintner produces white wines like Greccheto along with Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG and the Montefalco Rosso DOC (made from a blend of Sangiovese and Sagrantino grapes). “The Sagrantino flavor has become softer and rounder in the last years,” says Donatella Adanti, who with her family owns the winery. Contact: info@cantineadanti.com, 39.0742.360.295 cantineadanti.com
LUNELLI GROUP
Tenute Lunelli, a wine group from the Trentino province, produces Sagrantino, Montefalco Rosso and Passito, a sweet wine, at the Castelbuono estate. The famous Italian sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro designed the Umbrian winery, called the Carapace, a notable example of modernistic wine architecture. “Sagrantino is a powerful wine, because of the tannins’ intensity. From the start our goal was to make it a distinctive wine but at the same time elegant and balanced,” says Alessandro Lunelli, an owner of the company. Contact: info@tenutelunelli.it, 39.0461.972.490, tenutelunelli.it
CANTINA SCACCIADIAVOLI
Founded by a Roman prince in 1884, Scacciadiavoli became the property of the Pambuffeti family in 1954. “My generation’s greatest innovation has been the study and knowledge of every single vineyard to create different types of Sagrantino that will add to the final blend. In this way we increase the complexity of the wine,” says Liu Pambuffetti. There is a variety of tastings to book at the cantina. Contact: visits@scacciadiavoli.it, 39.0742.371.210, cantinascacciadiavoli.it
TILI VINI
Tili Wines, near Assisi, is an organic winery run by the Tili family, who have cultivated the property since the Middle Ages. Customized visits include apprentice winemaking sessions and wine tastings with a multicourse Umbrian lunch. Contact: info@tilivini.com, 39.075.806.4370, tilivini.com
PERTICAIA
Perticaia, a charming, small winery (37 acres of vineyards, more than half devoted to Sagrantino) has scooped up many awards since its founding in 2000. “Sagrantino is aimed at a select, niche audience,” says winemaker Alessandro Meniconi, “but the market is growing year after year.” Contact: info@perticaia.it; 39.0742.379.014, perticaia.it
ARNALDO CAPRAI
Arnaldo Caprai, a textile manufacturer, began producing Sagrantino wine in the 1970s. His son Marco has been a key player in the wine’s development and integral to its current renown. “We create Sagrantino wines that are meant for aging, and we want to keep it our point of strength,” says Marco Caprai. Contact: tour@arnaldocaprai.it, 39.0742.378.802, arnaldocapraiusa.com
LUNGAROTTI GROUP
Giorgio Lungarotti helped put Umbrian wines on the map. Today his daughters, Chiara and Teresa, run the company, which produces a wide range of red and white wines, along with Sagrantino. “In 1999 we decided to take our first step out of Torgiano and headed to Montefalco, instead of other Italian areas as many of our producer friends and competitors did,” says Chiara Lungarotti. The family also owns the exclusive Le Tre Vaselle resort and other posh properties. A variety of vineyard packages, including full-day and half-day tours and overnight stays, are available. Contact: welcome@lungarotti.it, 39.075.988.661, lungarotti.it/eng/visit/
CANTINE ADANTI
This award-winning vintner produces white wines like Greccheto along with Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG and the Montefalco Rosso DOC (made from a blend of Sangiovese and Sagrantino grapes). “The Sagrantino flavor has become softer and rounder in the last years,” says Donatella Adanti, who with her family owns the winery. Contact: info@cantineadanti.com, 39.0742.360.295 cantineadanti.com
LUNELLI GROUP
Tenute Lunelli, a wine group from the Trentino province, produces Sagrantino, Montefalco Rosso and Passito, a sweet wine, at the Castelbuono estate. The famous Italian sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro designed the Umbrian winery, called the Carapace, a notable example of modernistic wine architecture. “Sagrantino is a powerful wine, because of the tannins’ intensity. From the start our goal was to make it a distinctive wine but at the same time elegant and balanced,” says Alessandro Lunelli, an owner of the company. Contact: info@tenutelunelli.it, 39.0461.972.490, tenutelunelli.it
CANTINA SCACCIADIAVOLI
Founded by a Roman prince in 1884, Scacciadiavoli became the property of the Pambuffeti family in 1954. “My generation’s greatest innovation has been the study and knowledge of every single vineyard to create different types of Sagrantino that will add to the final blend. In this way we increase the complexity of the wine,” says Liu Pambuffetti. There is a variety of tastings to book at the cantina. Contact: visits@scacciadiavoli.it, 39.0742.371.210, cantinascacciadiavoli.it
TILI VINI
Tili Wines, near Assisi, is an organic winery run by the Tili family, who have cultivated the property since the Middle Ages. Customized visits include apprentice winemaking sessions and wine tastings with a multicourse Umbrian lunch. Contact: info@tilivini.com, 39.075.806.4370, tilivini.com
PERTICAIA
Perticaia, a charming, small winery (37 acres of vineyards, more than half devoted to Sagrantino) has scooped up many awards since its founding in 2000. “Sagrantino is aimed at a select, niche audience,” says winemaker Alessandro Meniconi, “but the market is growing year after year.” Contact: info@perticaia.it; 39.0742.379.014, perticaia.it
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