Montefalco Sagrantino secco

Infobox Italian Wine
name=Montefalco Sagrantino secco
type=DOCG
institution=October 30 1979
gazzetta=April 19 1980, n.160
yield= 800 t/km²
maximum=65,0%
grapeABV=12,0%
wineABV=13,0%
extract=26,0‰
origin=Province of Perugia
ingredients=Sagrantino 100%
comment=Source: [ [http://www.politicheagricole.it/ Ministero delle Politiche Agricoli Alimentari e Forestali] ]

The Montefalco Sagrantino secco is an Italian DOCG red wine produced from Sagrantino grapes in the Province of Perugia.

Description

Under Italian law, the term "Montefalco Sagrantino Secco" defines a wine obtained exclusively from Sagrantino grapes, exclusively in the Province of Perugia, in the Umbria region of central Italy (although not necessarily in the comune of Montefalco). The word "secco" in the name is Italian for "dry". The wine ages for 30 months, of which at least 12 in oak barrels. This wine is a DOCG, the highest-ranking category of Italian wine denominations. The Montefalco Sagrantino secco has excellent storage abilities.

Characteristics

The official description [ [http://www.politicheagricole.it/SettoriAgroalimentari/Vitivinicolo/Vino/default.htm Ministero delle Politiche Agricoli Alimentari e Forestali, page on Wine] ] is as follows:

*"Colore: rosso rubino intenso, talvolta con riflessi violacei e tendente al granato con l'invecchiamento.":* Colour: intense ruby red, sometimes with violaceous reflections, tending towards garnet with aging.

*"Odore: delicato caratteristico che ricorda quello delle more di rovo.":* Odour: delicate, characteristic, reminding of blackberries.

*"Sapore: asciutto, armonico.":* Taste: dry, harmonic.

erving and pairing with food

Serve at about 17 °C. Being a strong, structured wine, the Montefalco Sagrantino secco is best suited to red meats or strongly flavored cheese.

History

For a long time, the Sagrantino grape variety was only used for Montefalco Sagrantino passito or to fortify mixed wines. In recent years, producers such as Arnaldo Caprai have started to use it pure.

ee also

* Montefalco Bianco
* Montefalco Rosso
* Montefalco Rosso Riserva
* Montefalco Sagrantino Passito

External links

Unless otherwise noted, the links below provide both Italian and English content (you may have to look for the Italian or UK flags in some pages).

General interest

* http://english.stradadelsagrantino.it/ - "The Road of Sagrantino", a touristic website illustrating the territories where the Sagrantino wines come from.

Main producers

* http://www.consorziomontefalco.it/ - "Montefalco Consortium", an association of the wine producers in the Montefalco region, with links to each individual producer.
* http://www.arnaldocaprai.it/ - Arnaldo Caprai, probably the single best-known producer of Montefalco Sagrantino secco.
* http://www.saiagricola.it/tenute/tenuta_colpetrone.htm - Colpetrone (the English version can be found [http://www.saiagricola.it/english/tenutacolpetrone.htm here] ).
* http://www.lungarotti.it/ - Lungarotti

References