Montefalco wine (Montefalco Rosso, red wine; Montefalco Bianco, white wine) is a style of

Italian wine Italian wine is produced in every region of Italy. Italy is the world's largest producer of wine, with an area of under vineyard cultivation, and contributing a 2013–2017 annual average of 48.3 million hl of wine. In 2018 Italy accounted for ...

made in

Umbria it, Umbro (man) it, Umbra (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = , demographics1_footnotes = , demographics1_title1 = , demographics1_info1 = , ...

, and awarded

Denominazione di origine controllata The following four classifications of wine constitute the Italian system of labelling and legally protecting Italian wine: * ''Denominazione di origine'' (DO, rarely used; ; English: “designation of origin”), * ''Indicazione geografica tipic ...

(DOC) status in 1979.

Geography

The region lies in the province of

Perugia Perugia (, , ; lat, Perusia) is the capital city of Umbria in central Italy, crossed by the River Tiber, and of the province of Perugia. The city is located about north of Rome and southeast of Florence. It covers a high hilltop and part o ...

in central Umbria, and primarily encompasses the hill town of

Montefalco Montefalco is a historic small hill town in Umbria, Italy, with a population of 5,581 in August 2017. It has been settled since pre-Roman times, and retains many of its historic buildings. From 1446 to 1861 it was part of the Papal States. Montef ...

. Also within the region are the towns of

Bevagna Bevagna is a town and ''comune'' in the central part of the Italian province of Perugia (Umbria), in the flood plain of the Topino river. Bevagna is south-east of Perugia, west of Foligno, north-north-west of Montefalco, south of Assisi and ...

in the north,

Gualdo Cattaneo Gualdo Cattaneo () is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Perugia in the Italian region Umbria, located about 25 km southeast of Perugia Perugia (, , ; lat, Perusia) is the capital city of Umbria in central Italy, crossed by ...

and Bastardo in the center, and

Castel Ritaldi Castel Ritaldi is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Perugia in the Italian region Umbria, located about 40 km southeast of Perugia. Castel Ritaldi borders the following municipalities: Giano dell'Umbria, Montefalco, Spoleto, Trev ...

in the south. The wine region completely lies within one much larger DOC:

Colli Martani Colli may refer to: Places of Italy ;Municipalities (''comuni'') * Colli a Volturno, in the province of Isernia *Colli del Tronto, in the province of Ascoli Piceno *Colli sul Velino, in the province of Rieti ;Civil parishes (''frazioni'') *Colli ...

. Many of the wineries that make Montefalco DOC wines are located between Bevagna and Montefalco. These wineries often devote several portions of their property to olive trees, in addition to grapevines. The soil is mostly calcareous clay.Joseph Batianich & David Lynch Vino Italiano: The Regional Wines of Italy" pg 436 Clarkson Potter Publishers

DOC Regulations

According to regulations, Montefalco bianco must contain a minimum of 50%

Grechetto Grechetto () or Grechetto bianco is a white Italian wine grape variety of Greek origins. The grape is planted throughout central Italy, particularly in the Umbria region where it is used in the ''Denominazione di origine controllata'' (DOC) win ...

, between 20% to 35%

Trebbiano Toscano Trebbiano is an Italian wine grape, one of the most widely planted grape varieties in the world. It gives good yields, but tends to yield undistinguished wine. It can be fresh and fruity, but does not keep long. Also known as ugni blanc, it ...

, and the winemaker's choice of other white grapes for the remainder (up to 30%). Montefalco rosso (by far more prevalent than bianco) must contain between 60% to 70%

Sangiovese Sangiovese (, also , , ) is a red Italian wine grape variety that derives its name from the Latin ''sanguis Jovis'', "the blood of Jupiter". Though it is the grape of most of central Italy from Romagna down to Lazio (the most widespread grape i ...

, along with a requirement of 10% to 15%

Sagrantino Sagrantino is an Italian grape variety that is indigenous to the region of Umbria in Central Italy. It is grown primarily in the village of Montefalco and the surrounding area, with a recent rapid increase in planting area from in 2000 to by 2 ...

, and the winemaker's choice of other red grapes for the remainder (up to 30%). This allowance of other red grapes allows many Umbrian winemakers the ability to beef up their Montefalco rosso with interesting international varieties such as

Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon () is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Australia and British Columbia, Canada to Lebanon' ...

and

Merlot Merlot is a dark blue–colored wine grape variety, that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name ''Merlot'' is thought to be a diminutive of ''merle'', the French name for the blackbird, probably a reference to the ...

. Montefalco rosso must be aged a minimum of 18 months. Many wineries in Montefalco that make profound Sagrantino di Montefalco also make Montefalco rosso. The allowance of between 10% to 15% Sagrantino creates a Sangiovese-based wine with more tannins and body than many other reds of Italy. The result is a Sangiovese with some character and complexity. Montefalco rosso riserva is often a rare wine, because most winemakers in Montefalco will devote their extended barrel aging to the Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG. Nevertheless, the quality of Montefalco rosso riserva can be very high, and deserving of attention. The riserva must be aged for at least 30 months, with at least 12 months in wood.

References

{{reflist Italian DOC