Umbria Facts

Recommended Wineries:

WineAccess Travel Log

Read stories from the world's greatest wine trails.

All Regions // Italy // Umbria
About Umbria
Cabernet Sauvignons, Cabernet Francs, and Syrahs do well in Umbria. And the rather full-bodied, spicy Sagrantino, a very tannic red wine unique to Umbria, is worth special mention. That said, few of Umbria red wines communicate much sense of place, and there are many nondescript Sangiovese or Sangiovese-Cabernet-Merlot blends made. One notable exception is Lungarotti's deservedly famous Rubesco Riserva. Sagrantino di Montefalco does have real personality: these highly alcoholic, tannic behemoths can also age for decades. And the air-dried version, a Passito not unlike Recioto della Valpolicella, can be fascinating.

As for Umbria white wines, Orvieto benefits from rich volcanic tufo soils that nurture minerality and complexity. Unfortunately, decades of industrial-scale production have ruined their image, and today a handful of serious producers are struggling to emerge from the wreckage.

Top Rated Umbria Wines