5/8/2020

Orvieto DOC: the Magic and Mystery by Tanya Morning Star Darling CWE, IWS, FWS, SWS

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Where is ? Where is ?

Umbria is the Green Heart of Italy, and Orvieto, it’s Spiritual Center

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Orvieto Through the Ages

Orvieto Wine, Historic Treasure

Agricultura Promiscua and Maritata

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Orvieto’s Rivers, Lakes & Topography Rivers:  Tevere River  Paglia & other tributaries Lakes:  Lago Corbara  Lago Bolsena (in Lazio) Topography:  Sub-Apennine

Soils

Sedimentary: Clay, Sand, Sandstone

Tufo/tuff: porous volcanic rock

Alluvial deposits

Marine Sedimentary clay and sand

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Tufo/Tuff

Caves and Effervescence

Vendemmia Tardiva Muffa Nobile/Muffato

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Orvieto Wine Styles

 Use of new oak is not traditional, and is rare  Sweetness: secco, abbocato, ambile, dolce  Dry wines are the most common, but abbocato (off dry is very popular, and also historic)

 Late wines can be ambile or dolce  Muffa Nobile wines are always Dolce. Orvieto DOC is the only Italian botrytized wine entirely regulated by a disciplinare!

Orvieto’s Grapes Traditional Varieties Primary

Grechetto di Orvieto

Grechetto di Todi

Procanico Secondary

Verdello

Drupeggio

Malvasia International:

Vermentino, Chardonnay,

Grechetto di Orvieto

• Native to Umbria • Mildew-resistent skins • Crisp acidity, delicate aromas of white flowers, camomile, lime • Clone G109 is the most commonly used clone

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Grechetto di Todi  Genetically identical to Pignoletto (little pine cone) of Emilia Romagna  Ancient variety  Parent of Grechetto di Orvieto  G5 is the most commonly used clone

Procanico • Local Biotype of Toscano, but quantitatively more noble • Known for strong acidity • Extremely site-sensitive • Citrus, floral, pear, stone fruit, almond, salinity • Most common clone : T34

International Auxillary Grapes  Vermentino – Of unknown origin but widely planted throughout the Mediterranean (Liguria, Sardegna, Corsica, Toscana, Provence, and even Piemonte)  Chardonnay – native to Bourgogne. Beloved all over the world for still and sparkling wine production.  Sauvignon Blanc – native to Southwest France where is famously included in the blend of another wine known for crafted from …!

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Orvieto Growing Area

Orvieto DOC Disciplinare: the Rules

 Established: 1971

 Vineyard area: 2,000ha/4,942 acres

 Production: 90,000 hectoliters of Orvieto Doc wine / year (around 12MM bottles / year)

 Zone: Inter-regional, majority located in Umbria, but a small part in Lazio

 White wines ONLY

 Grapes/blend: Minimum 60% Grechetto and/or Procanico + maximum 40% other authorized traditional and international varieties (the same blend is used for all permitted wine styles, dry to sweet)

 Designations:  Classico: the historic production area, entirely in Umbria  Superiore: applies to all Orvieto DOC, requires higher minimum alcohol, lower yields and 5 months aging

The Wines & People

 Cooperatives  Bottlers  Estate production

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Cantine Monrubio Orvieto Classico DOC

Custodi Belloro, Orvieto Classico DOC

Pertusa, Vendemmia Tardiva, Orvieto Classico Superiore DOC

Le Velette Berganorio, Orvieto Classico Secco DOC

Lunato, Orvieto Classico Superiore DOC

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Palazzone Terre Vineate, Orvieto Classico Superiore DOC

Campo Guardiano Orvieto Classico DOC

Sergio Mottura

Tragugnano, Orvieto DOC

Argillae

Panata Orvieto Classico Superiore DOC

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Castello della Sala

San Giovani, Orvieto Classico Superiore DOC

Decugnano dei Barbi

Mare Antico, Orvieto Classico Superiore DOC

Pourriture Noble, Orvieto Classico Muffa Nobile DOC

Other Estate and Cooperative Producers  Castello di Corbara

 Barberani

 Falesco

 La Carraia

 Cantina Alta Rocca

 Cantina Cardeto (cooperative)

 Bigi

 Castel Noha

 Tenuta di Freddano

 Tenuta Vitalonga

 Tenuta di Salviano/Titgnano

 Paolo e Noemia d’Amico

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