A PORTRAIT OF THE WINERY

Stefano Novelli is the son and heir of a family whose name has always been at the forefront of quality Umbrian products (from eggs to bread). Since the year 2000 he has been in charge of an ambitious and innovative winegrowing and making project. The lovely cantina sits nestled in the hills around Montefalco and could not be a more welcoming place, ideal for modern wine-tourism hospitality, and includes a research centre dedicated to studying vines and wines. Bewitched by the allure of all things autochthonous, Stefano and his staff soon initiated various projects aimed at the recovery and valorization of ancient Umbrian varietals: from sagrantino (of which they have also made a surprising spumante version) to pecorino, but most importantly their attention is focused on trebbiano spoletino. As its name would indicate, this trebbiano has always been linked to the city of Spoleto, for which Novelli is something of a standard-bearer, and is the object of research by various enologists, among whom also Attilio Scienza.

THE VINEYARD AND TERROIR

The vineyards are divided into two areas: 30 hectares of black grapes grow in Montefalco, thriving on clayey soil rich shot through with fine gravel. The Spoleto area, with its continental climate and strong thermal excursions, hosts the vineyards that grow the white grapes.

THE GRAPE VARIETIES GROWN

Trebbiano spoletino grapevines cover twelve of the sixty hectares, the same amount as sagrantino. The lion’s share of the vineyards are planted with sangiovese, for some twenty hectares, while the rest is occupied by pecorino (3 hectares), grechetto, canaiolo, ciliegiolo and the international merlot and cabernet sauvignon.

WINES

As we wait for the DOC Spoleto appellation to be formalized, which will finally consecrate the trebbiano spoletino, the winery makes Montefalco Sagrantino, which is left to age for 16 months in barriques of French oak. It is a complex wine with a fine structure. Their Montefalco roSSo is a blend of sangiovese (mostly), sagrantino, merlot and cabernet sauvignon which makes for a an intriguing and fruity wine, deep yet easy to drink.