Sagrantino di Montefalco wine tour: the wineries to visit in Montefalco and Bevagna
A journey to discover Sagrantino is one of the experiences that every wine lover must do sooner or later.
Sagrantino di Montefalco is one of the most famous, tannic, and controversial Italian red wines. Finding the right wineries in Montefalco, Bevagna, Gualdo Cattaneo, Giano dell’Umbria, and Castel Ritaldi is not easy, as many have boarded this train and have started producing low-key.
We spent 2 weeks in Umbria, and the beauty of the hills of Montefalco has few rivals, so much so that it is called the terrace of Umbria.
Speaking from a purely “vinous” point of view, the wineries that deserve our praise—as we will tell you immediately—are not many: they are the historic ones that preserve delicious nectar, especially the passito, but are also of great beauty on an architectural level.
Scacciadiavoli
Let’s start with a historic cellar, where wine has been produced since 1884. It was born as a fazenda, used for almost industrial production at the time, but today it maintains all its charm with an imposing structure, a splendid barrel cellar and dream vineyards.
Fongoli winery
A classic family-run winery that has been converted to biodynamics in recent years. The wines are intense, persuasive, and full of intoxicating aromas. Let’s say that the style and philosophy are to support the territory and not to make cheesy wines. The passito is always a masterpiece, and the Vigna dei Sospiri reserve never disappoints, but also prepare yourself for a delicious extra virgin olive oil that knows how to whisper to the taste buds like few others.
Cantina Botti
A lovely, tiny winery, but managed by a great vigneron, Francesco Botti, who has greatly contributed to making Sagrantino unique. Get ready for a journey into the memories and history of Umbrian wine and unpredictable, lively wines, with aromas that will seduce your nose. Gold medal extra virgin olive oil, very reasonable prices, and a small surprise: Mrs. Maila Orazi, Francesco’s wife, has been curator and manager of the museum complex of San Francesco in Montefalco for many years, and will be able to bring the magnificent frescoes by Benozzo Gozzoli to life.
Bellafonte estate
We’re happy and relieved to tell you about this small winery in the hills of Torre del Colle, just behind Bevagna. Sabrina and Peter Heilbron are the emerging faces of Sagrantino, which here finds new life with a masterful, true, and lively interpretation, full of nuances and great elegance. Of course, the substance, the matter, is perceptible but always leads back to excellent drinkability. A winery to visit not only for the wine but also for the human warmth, the sidereal oil, and the possibility of staying in magnificent rooms. If you are looking for accommodations surrounded by nature, you know where to book.
Paolo Bea
Here is another winemaker with a well-sculpted idea of wine in mind. Sangiovese and Sagrantino are treated with respect in this winery, which offers a range of good and elegant wines, but always with perfect drinkability. They are not wines to eat, smell, or taste, but to drink! And this is one of the greatest compliments that can be given to a bottle. Stylish cellar.
Perticaia
Perticaia means plow and there will be a reason: Guido Guardigli, originally from Romagna, moved to Montefalco years ago and has since become a master of Sagrantino, which he declines in an elegant and precise way, but above all, he is having great success with Grechetto. If you are looking for a beautiful winery to visit, with a winemaker who has a lot to tell, especially on a technical level, take a trip to the Perticaia winery and you will never want to leave.
Antano Milziade
Old-fashioned winery, but with real wines, alcoholic and full of grit. The wine selection is of good quality, with consistently intense roughness and taste. If you like tough and muscular wines, you are in the right cellar. The prices are a bit expensive, but the raw material is ok.
Adanti
The historic winery is now managed entirely by women. Wines are modeled with precision but are not afraid to speak and bring out a powerful and lively vein. Grechetto of savory verve, Sagrantino “Il Domenico” is always in great shape, but also Sagrantino passito is nectar that deserves more than a taste. Nestled in an enchanting setting of vineyards.