Umbria [UHM-bree-uh]
Wine-producing region located in central Italy, bordered on the west by Tuscany and on the east by the Marches. Some of Italy’s most famous wines—like the whites from the Orvieto DOC—come from Umbria. The two docgs in the area, Montefalco Sangrantino and Torgiano Rosso Reserva, are both for red wines. There are ten other docs in this hilly region including Assisi, Colli Altotiberini, Colli Amerini, Colli del Trasimeno, Colli Martani, Colli Perugini, Lago di Corbara, Montefalco, Rosso Orvietano (or Orvietano Rosso), and Torgiano. As in Tuscany, a fair amount of Vin Santo is also made here. About 30 percent of the wines have DOC or DOCG status. There are about 40,000 vineyard acres in the region. Umbria’s most popular white-wine grapes are Trebbiano, Grechetto, and Verdello. Red and rosé wines use Canaiolo, Cilegiolo, Sangiovese, and Sagrantino. Non-local grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Merlot are making inroads in this region.
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.