UMBRIA

In the Italian heartland

A little light info to get us all started on Umbria:

Regional Vineyard:

Total Vineyard Size:

12,505 hectares | total regional vineyard including Quality wines, Table wines & Table grapes

Dedicated to Quality

7,512 hectares | dedicated to producing grapes for Quality wines.

Notable Cru/Zones:

Amelia *

No native varieties as such. Mostly Sangiovese and Trebbiano Toscano

Assisi *

Here we should look out for the native Grechetto. But check whether or not because it might also be Pignoletto from Emilia Romagna.

Colli Altotiberini *

Possible Grechetto country

Colli Martani *

Grechetto di Todi is one to watch because it may infact be non-other than Pignoletto from neighbouring Emilia Romagna. This needs to be clarified by someone :)

Colli Perugini

Lago di Corbara *

Principally known for its reds produced from international varieties.

Montefalco *

DOCG Sagrantino di Montefalco. One of the regions 2 DOCG’s. 100% of the variety must be used.

Orvieto *

Grechetto di Orvieto is the native grape. Min 40% with 20-40% Procanico (TrebbianoToscano) and it can be produced in a whole range of styles from Dry to Dolce.

Spoleto *

Trebbiano Spoletino is the native to watch. Min 50% + max 50% others. But go looking for mono-varietals. Super wine.

Todi *

Historically well known but, in native terms, the Grechetto here has been confirmed as non-other than Pignoletto from Emilia Romagna. Nice wines but the grape is not native.

Torgiano*

The 2nd DOCG in Umbria, producing structured reds from Tuscan native Sangiovese and Canaiolo.

Wine Style/Quality:

% Red

49.7%

% White

50.3%

% DOP / IGP

Recent figures from 2013 estimated 35.3% of wines from Umbria are produced according to EU DOP/PDO Quality standards. The region produces 15 DOP wines including 2 DOCG and 13 DOC wines. They also produce 6 IGP wines accounting for 48.7% of production. Table wines account for 16% of output.

UMBRIA – NATIVE GRAPES

As always, a number of the regions native grape varieties are used only for blending purposes. That said, we’ve listed those grapes which we understand might be available as mono-varietals or which are important blenders. Naturally, as we make our own discovery, we’ll update these lists.

NATIVE REDS

SAGRANTINO*

In Montefalco it has the perfect native home. Powerful tannic rising star.

NATIVE WHITES

DOLCIAME

DRUPPEGGIO*

Native to UMBRIA, next door in TOSCANA it’s often called Canaiolo Bianco. Which is confusing because a number of other white grapes in TOSCANA are also called Canaiolo Bianco :) Great fun !

GRECHETTO DI ORVIETO*

Not to be confused with Grechetto di Todi, which apparently is identical to Pignoletto from Emilia Romagna.

TREBBIANO SPOLETINO*

Now here’s a little known native umbrian white grape that’s producing some fresh, summer wines. Well worth tracking these down.

VERDELLO

OUR STATSOURCES

  • ISTAT – Italy’s Istituto Nazionale delle Statistiche (Census 2010 / Vineyard Production Figures 2013)
  • AIS – The Association of Italian Sommeliers www.aisitalia.it
  • ‘I Numeri del Vino’ – Marco Baccaglio’s top Italian blog – lots of numbers :)
  • Wine Grapes – Robinson, Harding & Vouillamoz – lots of great grape stuff – BUY IT !
  • Native Wine Grapes of Italy – Ian D’Agata – extensive – Highly recommend its purchase !
  • Lavinium – Italian wine, food & culture. Brilliant. Only in Italian. Great reason to learn Italian!! www.lavinium.com

vintage information

All data is intended to be for indicative purposes only due to the variability from vintage to vintage. But we do try to keep ourselves ‘reasonably’ updated :)

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