Umbria

Overview

Umbria is Italy's only landlocked region in the peninsula, a place of mystical beauty known as the country's "green heart." With landscapes of dense forests, medieval hill towns, and quiet valleys, it has long lived in the shadow of its more famous neighbor, Tuscany - yet its wines are every bit as compelling.

The region's greatest wine is Sagrantino di Montefalco, produced from the Sagrantino grape in the hills near Perugia. This is one of the most tannic and powerful wines in Italy, with extraordinary depth, spice, and aging potential. When handled with skill, it transforms into a wine of haunting complexity and elegance.

Umbria also produces the historic white wine Orvieto, a crisp blend named after the dramatic cliff-top town where it has been made since Etruscan times. In recent years, producers have pushed beyond the simple, easy-drinking style to create textured, mineral-driven whites that rival the best in central Italy.

Key Varietals

• SagrantinoUmbria's iconic red, producing massively tannic, deeply colored wines with blackberry, plum, licorice, and extraordinary aging potential.
• SangioveseWidely planted for blends and varietal wines, contributing bright cherry, herbs, and structure to the region's approachable reds.
• Grechetto & TrebbianoThe backbone of Orvieto, with Grechetto adding body, almond, and mineral depth to Trebbiano's crisp, citrusy freshness.
• MontepulcianoUsed in blends throughout the region, adding color, body, and dark fruit richness to Umbria's red wines.