Montefalco

[clifford]

I'm heading to Umbria on Monday, staying in Spoleto. Any can not/should not wines I need to search out? Thanks!

[Echezeaux]

Here are a few suggestions:

VAL DI MAGGIO--ARNALDO CAPRAI

MONTEFALCO (Perugia)

località Torre

Tel: 0742/378802/378523

They actually maintain are rather California-like tasting room. Many consider Caprai's Sagrantino wines to be the benchmark. They collaborate with the University in Milano (which sells Caprai clone budwood of Sagrantino).

COLPETRONE - SAIAGRICOLA

GUALDO CATTANEO (Perugia)

via della Collina 4, località Marcellano

Tel: 0578/76772

Very "internationally-styled" wines...I believe Tiziana Mazzetti takes care of tours and tastings...

FATTORIA COLSANTO

BEVAGNA (Perugia)

località Montarone

Tel: 0742/360412 or 0432/757173

They make a nice "rosso" blend with Sagrantino, etc. and a pretty good Sagrantino on its own.

LA FIORITA-LAMBORGHINI

PANICALE (Perugia)

via Soderi, 1

Tel: 075/8350029

This is the Lamborghini automotive family...stylish wines, too internationall-styled for some folks, but well-made, in any case.

SPORTOLETTI

SPELLO (Perugia)

via Lombardia 1 - Capitanloreto

Tel: 0742/651461

This family run place is near Assisi. They make a lovely dry white of Grechetto and some excellent red under the Villa Fidelia banner. If you can taste (or buy) their olive oil, don't miss it...it's sensational, too!

Buona fortuna e buon viaggio!

[DaleJ]

Caprai is about halfway between Montefalco and Bevagna. A big spread with a nice tasting room. Another Sagrantino producer is Paulo Bea at the edge of Montefalco. A tiny, casual place with well thought of wines, especially Passito.

[hathor]

I'm heading to Umbria tommorow..thanks for the info!!

Have fun Clifford!! We are having our festa this week, in Montone (between Umbertide and Citta dei Castello), its a lot of fun if you are in the neighborhood.

Warning: do NOT drink any of the wine at the cantinas! No one is quite sure where it comes from..... But the roasted meats are fabulous!!

ciao!

[john@thebar]

Hi Clifford, wish I were tagging along. There is a very inexpensive Umbrian blend made by the Falesco winery called Vitiano. I believe it is a sangiovese with some cab and merlot blended in. I have thoroughly enjoyed the last vintages of this wine and would very much like to try a couple of their more expensive offerings, particularly their merlot which I understand is great. There is one caveat however: be very careful of the 2002 vintage! I haven't tasted any 2002's yet, nor have I heard anything good or bad about how Umbria fared in this vintage. However, from what I've read so far, it appears that Bacchus took a major doo-doo all over Tuscany and the Piedmont in '02 so proceed with caution! Have a geat trip and please let us know about any "finds"!

[hathor]

Funny you say that John@the bar....my 'sources' in Umbria all seemed very optomistic about the '02 crop. You know the bad year for truffles...good year for wine adage...