Torgiano DOC; Torgiano Rosso Reserva DOCG [tohr-jee-AH-noh]
Demarcated zone that encircles the town of Torgiano, which is just south of Perugia in the center of Italy’s Umbria region. The Torgiano DOC covers rosso wines made from Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Trebbiano, Ciliegiolo, and Montepulciano grapes. The area’s bianco wines are made from Trebbiano, Grechetto, Malvasia, and Verdello. The DOC also allows varietal wines made with a minimum 85 percent of the variety to be made from grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio (Pinot Gris), Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir), and Riesling Italico (Welschriesling). The Torgiano Rosso riserva, which was upgraded to DOCG status in 1990, has a higher alcohol content and 3 years of aging. This area’s production is so dominated by the Lungarotti firm’s production that the DOCG is closely associated with Lungarotti’s proprietary brand names—Rubesco for the red wines and Torre di Giano for the whites. The very best wines are the Rubesco riserva from the Monticchio vineyard and the Torre di Giano riserva from the Il Pino vineyard. The other well-known producer is castello di Antignano.
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.