Montefalco DOC; Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG [mawn-teh-FAHL-koh sah-grahn-TEE-noh]
A small hilltop town located southeast of Perugia in Italy’s Umbria region. The DOC zone covers the vineyards on the slopes around Montefalco, plus those of several neighboring villages. Montefalco makes a good-quality, full-flavored rosso out of Sangiovese, Trebbiano, and Sagrantino plus small amounts of Barbera, Ciliegiolo, Merlot, Malvasia, and Montepulciano. However, the Montefalco Sagrantino (or Sagrantino di Montefalco) wines—made in both dry and passito versions from Sagrantino grapes—are creating this area’s reputation. These wines are rich and full-bodied (see body) with adequate tannins to let them age for a while. In recognition of its high-quality wines, the Sagrantino di Montefalco zone was upgraded to DOCG status in the mid-1990s.
The New Wine Lovers Companion, 2nd Edition, by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Copyright © (1) 2003, 1995 by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Reprinted by arrangement with Barron's Educational Series, Inc.