Region: Lazio and Umbria
Quality Level in EU/Italian Wine Law: Orvieto DOC
Primary Grape Varieties: Trebbiano and Grecchetto
Food Pairings: Seafood, vegetable pasta
The region where Lazio and Umbria join is landlocked and inland with a slightly continental climate. The region has warm and sometimes hot summers with most of the 800 mm of rain each year falling in the fall and winter. This can lead to some times of heat stress. The region is well known for Orvieto white wines (and Sagrantino Red Wines) that are cultivated at elevations of 150-500 meters. This allows the grapes to obtain adequate sunlight while retaining their acidity.
The Orvieto wines must contain at least 60% of the two primary grapes and they must come from elevations between 100 and 550 meters above sea level. The higher the better with Grechetto providing greater flavor intensity. Overall the wines are medium intensity at best with flavors of apple and lemon with medium alcohol. The elevation brings medium + acidity due to a high diurnal shift (temperatures changes between night and day that slow ripening for more intensity and maintain acidity). Yields are managed within the DOC and within the Classico subregion for quality. Lower yields in the Classico region provider greater concentration of flavors.
Fall rains can be a problem but the thick skinned grapes can accommodate the disease pressure and a long fall season can result in late harvested grapes and even some with botrytis. While most orvieto wines are dry, the DOC allows for a range of sweetness associated with these options.
The dry wines are fermented cool in stainless steel to preserve their fruit and are intended for consumption within a year or two.
Quality Level in EU/Italian Wine Law: Orvieto DOC
Primary Grape Varieties: Trebbiano and Grecchetto
Food Pairings: Seafood, vegetable pasta
The region where Lazio and Umbria join is landlocked and inland with a slightly continental climate. The region has warm and sometimes hot summers with most of the 800 mm of rain each year falling in the fall and winter. This can lead to some times of heat stress. The region is well known for Orvieto white wines (and Sagrantino Red Wines) that are cultivated at elevations of 150-500 meters. This allows the grapes to obtain adequate sunlight while retaining their acidity.
The Orvieto wines must contain at least 60% of the two primary grapes and they must come from elevations between 100 and 550 meters above sea level. The higher the better with Grechetto providing greater flavor intensity. Overall the wines are medium intensity at best with flavors of apple and lemon with medium alcohol. The elevation brings medium + acidity due to a high diurnal shift (temperatures changes between night and day that slow ripening for more intensity and maintain acidity). Yields are managed within the DOC and within the Classico subregion for quality. Lower yields in the Classico region provider greater concentration of flavors.
Fall rains can be a problem but the thick skinned grapes can accommodate the disease pressure and a long fall season can result in late harvested grapes and even some with botrytis. While most orvieto wines are dry, the DOC allows for a range of sweetness associated with these options.
The dry wines are fermented cool in stainless steel to preserve their fruit and are intended for consumption within a year or two.
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