A PORTRAIT OF THE WINERY

“I would love to go live in the countryside…”. This is a dream many of us have but most of us have never actually acted on. This cannot be said for Italo and Giuseppa Di Filippo, who took the big step forty years ago and over time built up the winery that now proudly carries their name. We are on the hills of Cannara, with Assisi in front of us and Torgiano and Montefalco in other directions, but nearby. It is a border territory, and, as is often the case, blessed with the virtues of various alchemic combinations. The earth, the land… these are the key concepts we need to understand the work the Di Filippos, who with perseverance and conviction chose to respect the land. While the organic rage seems to have appeared on the horizon not long ago, they were already embracing this philosophy long before it became fashionable to do so, just like they did with bio-dynamism. For them it was a vision, a sincere conviction that nature belongs at the centre of all things, and that nature also belongs in a glass of wine.

THE VINEYARD AND TERROIR

Their vineyards cover some thirty hectares on the top of sun-blessed hills halfway between Torgiano and Montefalco. The soil here, as well as the microclimate, is typical of the area and exposure varies from slope to slope. In keeping with their now-trendy green production philosophy, they use geese to “clean” the vineyards and horses to plough it.

THE GRAPE VARIETIES GROWN

Among the range of varieties are grown here we find the super-traditional sagrantino, grechetto and vernaccia di Cannara (cornetta). But they also grow: sangiovese, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, barbera, pinot bianco and trebbiano.

WINES

They produce a wide variety of wines. From an earthy and complex Montefalco Sagrantino with rich hues and flavour, to a very pleasant rosso di Montefalco Sallustio; and from a colli Martani SangioveSe riserva Properzio that is aged in barriques for a year, to juicy whites that are fresh and tasty like the grechetto SaSSi d’arenaria. They make a fine dessert wine, Sagrantino Passito, and the very rare vernaccia di cannara.