A PORTRAIT OF THE WINERY

Tudernum is a fine example of cooperation among winemakers. It was founded in the mid-1900s by fiftyfour grape growers who decided to unite their products to make and sell their wines under one label. Over time their number has increased but, more importantly, their quality has taken a decisive leap forward as well. The entire enterprise, in fact, has gone through various stages that have led to improvements over their humble beginnings: at first they simply got together and built a cantina in which to make their wine, then they concentrated on improving the quality of their output (in the 1970s) and, finally, they consolidated in the 1990s and acquired smaller steel vats and constructed a building in which the wines could age in wooden barrels and barriques. Since then, they have continued to invest and innovate, so much so that over the last ten years their image has undergone major changes attracting an increasing number of consumers and wine lovers thanks to the quality wines they now put out at reasonable prices.

THE VINEYARD AND TERROIR

The vineyards are spread out among the outskirts of Todi, Monte Castello di Vibio and Massa Martana, at altitudes that go anywhere from 200 to 550 mt above sea level. Most of the terrain the grapes grow on, especially where Todi and Monte Castello di Vibio are concerned, is characterized by clay, while the vineyards around Massa Martana are much more sandy. From a climatic point of view, the vineyards can be divided into two: of which Massa Martana and Monte Castello di Vibio have the warmer weather, with all of the imaginable consequences that brings during harvest time.

THE GRAPE VARIETIES GROWN

In collaboration with the Università degli Studi di Milano, studies have been conducted to identify the original grechetto di Todi and understand its unique features. A new study has recently gotten underway to identify the grechetto nero di Todi, an ancient varietal that is being brought back to life. The other grapes they grow are: trebbiano, chardonnay and riesling (the whites) and sangiovese, merlot, cabernet sauvignon and sagrantino (black grapes).

WINES

They make two splendid versions of Todi GrecheTTo: one vinified in steel and is crispy and tasty with aromatic traces of anisette and grape skin, while the other, colle Nobile, spends some time in barriques and is more elegant and complex. Their MoNTefalco SaGraNTiNo and MoNTefalco roSSo are both great wines, depending on the vintage. They make wonderful versions of SaNGioveSe and MerloT, and their other wines are also very pleasant.