Rosso di Montefalco DOC is a red wine classification from Umbria, more precisely from a valley southeast of Torgiano that encompasses five municipalities around the town of Montefalco. The classification was created in 1979 and ranks among the most characterful expressions of central Italy's red wines.
A Montefalco Rosso is built primarily on Sangiovese, typically 60-70 percent, with a minimum of 10 percent Sagrantino in the blend. It is precisely Sagrantino that gives the wines their distinctiveness. The grape is native to this area and is found almost exclusively here, and its origin is attributed either to Greek heritage or to Franciscan monks. Sagrantino is unusually rich in polyphenols, which provides depth and colour, and it is considerably more tannic than Sangiovese. The tannins are powerful, but come across as more sweet and full than sharp.
In the glass you meet dense, dark wines with aromas ranging from blackberry jam to pine tar, uniting both savoury and sweet nuances. The grapes grow in a valley with clay soil mixed with sand and limestone. Cooler air currents from the Apennines meet Mediterranean influence, which tempers the climate and lengthens the ripening season, so the grapes have time to develop their concentration.
If you want to experience Sagrantino in its purest form, look to Sagrantino di Montefalco, which consists of 100 percent Sagrantino and was elevated to DOCG in 1992. With only around 160 hectares of Sagrantino vineyards, these wines are relatively rare. Many of the producers who have specialised in Sagrantino also make white wines from Grechetto under the Colli Martani DOC designation, if you feel like exploring the area's lighter side.
Rosso di Montefalco is a good place to begin if you want to get to know Sagrantino without going straight to the most concentrated expressions. Sangiovese provides freshness and fruit, while the touch of Sagrantino adds structure and depth that make the wines well suited to food and to a few years of cellaring.