Umbria: A Thousand Landscapes and Flavors

The Jewel Box of Italy
Umbria: the only Italian region, together with the alpine Valle d'Aosta and the bilingual Trentino Alto Adige, to have no sea access, almost as if wanting to hide its treasures from the raids of frantic and seasonal tourists. Almost as if wanting to protect its heritage of art, history, craftsmanship and skillful viticulture. The territory is mountainous for almost 30% of its surface and the remaining 70% is covered by a sinuous succession of hills. The few plains we find coincide with the valleys of the numerous rivers that flow with peaceful calm across the entire territory. In the north of the region, we find the Renaissance city of Città di Castello, surrounded by green landscapes and ancient villages.

From here blooms the enchanting Alta Valle del Tevere, which delicately flows down to the Marian city of Todi. The continental climate is accentuated in the mountainous areas, while at lower altitudes we find a predominantly Mediterranean climate with mild winters, hot and dry summers. To the north, Lake Trasimeno tempers with its gentle breezes the vineyards adjacent to the dormant volcano. The high mountain ranges of the Umbro-Marchigiano Apennines protect the ancient medieval lands from the freezing winter currents coming from the northeast. The strong temperature variations between night and day favor regular grape ripening. The layout of the region is distinguished by its continuous altimetric variations, giving rise to a heterogeneous variety of microclimates. Nestled between Tuscany, Marche and Lazio, this region offers its visitors a thousand treasures and endless natural wonders. Umbria: land of monasteries and mysteries, imposing cathedrals and majestic duomos, ancient fortresses and medieval villages. A destination for romantic day trips for young lovers, a region for art enthusiasts, a place for tourists and food and wine aficionados. A small jewel box at the center of the boot. The leading grape varieties of this region are the whites, with the all-Italian derby between the Grechetto di Orvieto and the Grechetto di Todi, and the great international reds.

The Wine Routes
For those who love to travel following themed itineraries, the region offers four distinct wine routes, which represent a wonderful opportunity for lovers of Italian quality to combine knowledge of territories with a high wine-growing vocation with environmental, cultural and artistic experiences. The Strada dei vini Etrusco Romana is bounded by the provinces of Terni and Orvieto. A land first populated by the Etruscan peoples and subsequently by the Romans. The territory is crossed by the Tiber River, which flows along hills, mountains and valleys. On the hills of Narni and Amelia we encounter red wines based on Sangiovese and Montepulciano, accompanied by the international Merlot and the indigenous Canaiolo. On the hills dominated by the imposing Orvieto, a city suspended among the clouds and home to the famous cathedral dedicated to the Virgin Mary, we become acquainted with the main interpreters of the territory such as Grechetto and Trebbiano Toscano, locally known as Procanico. Finally, on the shores of Lake Corbara in the municipalities of Titignano, the famous Burgundy grape varieties are cultivated alongside the perennial challenge of Pinot Nero. Production regulations free from severe restrictions give wineries the freedom to create their own wines following personal production styles. The Strada del Cantico winds through the municipalities of Todi, Perugia and Assisi. The route crosses the most representative places of the region and the Torgiano controlled and guaranteed denomination zone, a marriage of Sangiovese combined with other locally cultivated grape varieties. Assisi, center of spirituality and place for promoting peace among peoples, provides its pilgrims and tourists with international-style red wines and whites with native grape blends. The mosaic of grape varieties of the Colli Martani and Colli Perugini denominations offers the visitor an embarrassment of choice. Just under 1,000 hectares cultivated almost exclusively with red-berry varieties, with the exception of Todi. The Strada del Sagrantino is a small route that crosses the vineyards destined for the cultivation of the grape so dear to friars that it was used as passito wine for holy mass. Among the dense rows of the assertive Sagrantino, the more restrained Sangiovese makes its way, pairing beautifully with the grape that boasts the highest number of polyphenols, giving rise to the rosso di Montefalco, a wine of great depth that pairs wonderfully with regional gastronomic products. Our tour concludes with the Strada del Vino Colli del Trasimeno, an area near the fourth largest lake in Italy, which at the beginning of the third millennium revolutionized its viticulture by replanting around 350 hectares of land with fine grape varieties such as Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon for reds, and Grechetto and Chardonnay for whites.