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The green heart of Italy
Umbria, beyond Sagrantino
The “green heart” of Italy, Umbria borders Lazio to the south, Tuscany to the west, and Marche to the north and northeast. The only region within Peninsular Italy without an access to the sea, rolling hills against the backdrop of the verdant Apennines define its landscape. Hence the above-mentioned nickname.
The native region of Saint Francis and Saint Benedict, Umbria is a treasure trove of artistic and architectural beauties. Rich gastronomy and wine production are another reflection of its vast cultural heritage.
Viticulture in Umbria has a long history dating back to Roman times. The region offers a mixed bag of whites and red wines, generally reflecting its continental climate – with cold winters and hot and dry summer days alternated to cooler nights – through a mix of good palate structure and refreshing acidity.
- Area: 8.464 km2 (16th out of 20)
- Mountain: 29,3%
- Hill: 70,7%
- Highest peak: Cima del Redentore (2.448 mt)
- Population: 856.407 (1,5%)
- Provinces: Perugia, Terni
- Despite being the second smallest region in Central Italy after Molise, Umbria boasts considerable viticultural biodiversity, with Bassa Umbria (Southern Umbria) and Alta Umbria (Northern Umbria) housing completely different varieties.
- In Southern Umbria, the Orvieto area has been the main source of wine for the Papal court in Rome from the 15th to the 19th century.
- Sagrantino di Montefalco has been one of the most rapidly growing wines in Italy over the last thirty years - it grew from 66 hectares in 1992 to almost 1000 today. One of the world’s most tannic red grapes, it requires meticulous farming and winemaking to produce world-class wines.
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Umbria Travel Guide
Where is Umbria Located?
Umbria lies in Central Italy, and borders Lazio, Tuscany, and Marche.
What to see in Umbria?
- Orvieto: a beautiful town perched on a tufa rock, housing one of Italy’s most awe-inspiring gothic cathedrals:
- Lake Trasimeno: a charming lake flanked by picturesque towns.
- Perugia: the chief town of the region and birthplace of famous painter Perugino, rich in medieval and renaissance monuments.
- Assisi: housing the wonderful St. Francis basilica with medieval frescoes by Giotto and Cimabue.
- Gubbio and Spello: two of Italy’s most beautiful medieval towns.
- Spoleto: the picture-perfect town hosting the Due Mondi festival, one of Italy’s most famous cultural events.
- Cascata delle Marmore: one of Italy’s largest cascades.
- Castelluccio plain: famous for lentils and flowers that give life to a dazzling patchwork of colors when blooming.
What are the typical dishes of Umbria?
Black truffle is a must in Umbria: locals shave it onto strangozzi (fresh pasta), poached eggs or meat stew. Charcuterie from Norcia is also highly sought-after: you can match savory Prosciutto di Norcia to torta al testo (thick flatbread from Perugia). Free-range Cinturello Orvietano pork ribs or sausages shouldn’t be missed either.
Lentils and Roveja, an indigenous variety of peas, make for outstanding soups, perhaps with a drop of local extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of dried herbs. As for the sweets, a slice of crescionda (chocolate pie from Spoleto) is the perfect way to end the meal.
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Grapes in Umbria
What are the main Grape Varieties in Umbria?
Umbria mainly focuses on native grapes:
- Sagrantino: famous for Montefalco Sagrantino, giving wines that are dark-colored, high-acid and very tannic, with deep aromas of sweet dark cherries, plums, chocolate, botanical herbs, and dark spice. While always bold and concentrated, they taste elegant and light on their feet if maceration and aging are properly managed.
- Grechetto: one of the most tannic white grapes, employed in the production of structured and savory white wines. Grechetto Orvietano is slightly brighter and fresher, while Grechetto Gentile di Todi yields richer and fruitier wines.
- Trebbiano Spoletino: A recently rescued – and especially promising – white variety, standing out for its versatility and producing a wide variety of different wines, ranging from simple and bright to complex and age-worthy, undergoing oak aging or extended skin-contact.
- Procanico: A biotype of Trebbiano Toscano, taking part in the Orvieto blend.
- Sangiovese: used to make juicy and food-friendly Montefalco Rosso (with dollops of Sagrantino and other grapes) and rich and age-worthy Torgiano Rosso.
- Ciliegiolo: thriving around the town of Narni in Southern Umbria, it gives juicy, red-fruited reds.
- Gamay del Trasimeno: a local biotype of Grenache, giving fruit-forward reds and light rosè.
Other key grapes:
- Chardonnay
- Montepulciano
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Syrah
- Vernaccia Nera
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Umbria Wine Areas
- Hectares under vine: 9,237
- Total production: 597,000 hectoliters (2022)
- Percentage of DOC wines:
- Number of DOCGs: 2
- Prevalent soil types: volcanic tufa, calcareous-clay soils.
Viticulture in Umbria has a long history dating back to Roman times. The region offers a mixed bag of whites and red wines, generally reflecting its continental climate – with cold winters and hot and dry summer days alternated to cooler nights – through a mix of good palate structure and refreshing acidity.
What are the key denominations of Umbria?
- Montefalco Sagrantino: the most important denomination for red wine in Umbria, producing some of the richest and most powerful red wines in Italy.
- Montefalco Rosso / Montefalco Rosso Riserva: Sangiovese-based red wines from Montefalco.
- Torgiano Rosso / Torgiano Rosso Riserva: a small denomination giving complex Sangiovese with excellent cellaring potential.
- Orvieto: an historical wine district devoted to the production of the namesake white, consisting of a blend of Procanico, Grechetto and minor grapes. The wines are mostly light, crisp and affordable but the best versions are complex, savory, and also age well.
- Ciliegiolo di Narni: read the chapter about key grapes.
- Spoleto Trebbiano Spoletino: a newly-established DOC devoted to the production of the namesake wine.
- Gamay del Trasimeno: read the chapter about key grapes.
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Wineries in Umbria
What are the most important Wineries in Umbria?
Umbria houses a few large producers who account for a significant share of the regional production, and a plethora of smaller wineries scattered across the region’s various denominations.
Big Wineries
- Arnaldo Caprai
- Bigi
- Falesco / Famiglia Cotarella
- Lungarotti
- Terre de La Custodia
Cult Wineries
- Adanti
- Barberani
- Castello della Sala
- Palazzone
- Scacciadiavoli
- Tabarrini
Up-and-Coming Wineries
- Antonelli San Marco
- Di Filippo
- Fratelli Pardi
- Leonardo Bussoletti
- Lunelli – Tenuta Castelbuono
- Madrevite
- Perticaia
- Tenuta Bellafonte
- Tenuta di Salviano
Natural Wine Producers
- Annesanti
- Cantina Ninni
- Collecapretta
- Fongoli
- Il Signor Kurtz
- La Palazzola
- Marco Merli
- Paolo Bea
Travel
Discover Umbria: Orvieto, Lago Trasimeno, Perugia, Assisi, Gubbio, Spello, Spoleto, Cascata delle Marmore, Pian Grande di Castelluccio
Grapes
Discover grapes varieties of Umbria: Sagrantino, Grechetto, Trebbiano Spoletino, Procanico, Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo, Gamay del Trasimeno
Wine areas
Discover wine denomintation of Umbria: Montefalco Sagrantino, Montefalco Rosso / Montefalco Rosso Riserva, Torgiano Rosso / Torgiano Rosso Riserva, Orvieto, Ciliegiolo di Narni, Spoleto Trebbiano Spoletino Gamay del Trasimeno
Wineries
Nested in the heart of Italy, Umbria hosts an array of superb wines and top-notch wineries. This somewhat undiscovered region harbors some real hidden treasures in the wine world!
umbria
Curiosities, food and wine pairings and much more
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