BARBERANI

The vineyards of the estate are only a few kilometers away from Orvieto. They are on the hills overlooking Lake Corbara, along the Tiber river, right above the road from Orvieto to Todi. This area, known as the "classic" zone, is the oldest and most well known wine-producing land in the Orvieto province.
An aristocratic house, that dates back to Roman era, probably controlled the surrounding hills, which are now covered with vineyards and olive groves.
Archaeological research has shown that grapevine and olive grove cultivation in the Classica area dates back thousands of years to the Etruscan era. Along the Tiber, the ruins of an ancient Roman harbor are proof of the fact that these products were shipped to Rome itself.



In the medieval period, many fortified castles with watchtowers were built to protect the borders of Orvieto and Todi. Our castle, the Castello di Monticello was one of these fortresses: approximately one hundred people inhabited the grounds and were charged with tending to the surrounding lands, which were dedicated to grapevine, olive, and cereal cultivation.

  

VINEYARDS

The estate covers a total area of 80 hectares, 50 of which are dedicated to specialized vineyards as well as olive groves. In additions, new vines are currently in planting phase, which involves many innovative techniques.

 

  
The nature of the argillaceous limestone-rich soil; the hill-top position; the proximity to the below lake—which protects the microclimate from sharp variations in temperature; and our continuous agronomic experimentation and labor result in the production of excellent quality grapes and subsequently, to premium wines.

THE CELLAR

  
The vinification is carried out in our winery, situated in the middle of the vineyards, always following the techniques that give the wines their unique regional characteristics. The winery was built recently and outfitted with the most modern equipment.

Immediately after the harvest, the grapes are destemmed with a German Company Amos crusher machine, then soft pressed using a Willmes pneumatic press. Some grapes are also cold-macerated. The various types of must become statically chilled directly in the stainless steel tanks for the best separation, and are fermented at controlled temperatures between 15 to 20 C°. Some special wines are fermented and / or aged in 225-liter barrels made of French oak.

Bottling carried out in a complete sterile system, without pasteurization, in order to best retain the original distinctive features of the wines. This include Seitz sterile filtration, Millipore micro-filtration, and sterile bottling using Seitz tecniques and equipment.

In essence, as with the previous phases, we continue to use "physical" methods, rather than apply chemical treatments. This permits giving maximum respect to the natural characteristics of the wines and to ensure complete genuineness, which in turn creates wines that are extremely pleasant and drinkable.

Dr. Maurizio Castelli is the director of both the agronomic and enological operations.

wine review


 
The wines are produced from grapes grown exclusively in the vineyards of the estate. Vinification is carried out separately for every vineyard in order to preserve their individual characteristics.

Orvieto Classico d.o.c. dry, medium-sweet and “noble rot” sweet wine with several “selections” represents our main production. Different varieties of grapes (Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, Semillon, Rhine Riesling, Moscato, Cabernet sauvignon, Cabernet franc, Pinot noir) are almost always blended with the traditional varieties of the region to createprestigious white and red wines of notable personality.

 

ROSSO - VILLA MONTICELLI

Lago di Corbara Doc : An great red wine, produced with a blend that is by now a classic.
It demostrates how in additions to prestigious white wines, our area can produce classy reds that will also age well.

 


GRAPES: sangiovese, cabernet sauvignon, merlot.
COLOR: intense ruby-red color.
SCENT: intense and has balanced persistence, is pronounced, penetrating and pleasantly ethereal.
TASTE: elegant, harmonical, with a balanced and smooth body.
AGING: enhanced for eighteen months in French wooden barrels.

This wine is the perfect foil for grilled and spit-roasted red meat, game and elegant meat dishes; very good with aged cheeses too.
Serve at 16-18° C.

ORVIETO CLASSICO SUPERIORE DOC - SECCO

 

This wine is produced in a privileged area that we identified in the vineyards on our estate following several years of testing

GRAPES: the five traditional varieties used for Orvieto wine and also includes a small quantity of chardonnay.
COLOR: light and brilliant straw-yellow.
SCENT: fruity and with an intense bouquet, characteristic of these grape varieties.
TASTE: good aroma and harmony with a lingering finish, with excellent structure and finesse.

This wine is the ideal accompaniment for seafood appetizers, delicate first courses, boiled and grilled fish, and white meats.
It is also an excellent aperitif.
Serve cool (10-12° C.).
MOSCATO PASSITO  VILLA MONTICELLI
Umbria Igt Dolce

 

The grapes, which have an early maturation, are dried on the vine and on mats.

GRAPES: white moscato.
COLOR: intense yellow.
SCENT: intense and fruity, with all the moscato characters.
TASTE: very elegant and with a long persistence.
AGING: in bottle.

It goes well with oven cakes, fruit, almond and nut tarts, cookies.
It is a marvelous sipping wine.
Serving temperature: 12° to 14° C
CALCAIA  Dolce “Muffa Nobile”
Orvieto Classico Superiore Doc

 

On autumn mornings, the area is usually blanketed by a thick fog that fosters the development of a particular mildew on the grapes known as “Botrytis cinerea”.
These grapes are picked very late and the harvest is done in several stages in order to allow this phenomenon to be completed

•GRAPES: the five traditional varieties used for Orvieto wine and a little quantity of chardonnay.
COLOR: golden yellow.
SCENT: elegant and fascinating bouquet that is rich and “buttery”.
TASTE: its noble, persuasive and harmoniously mellow flavor is sweet and has a lingering finish.
FERMENTATION: in steel tanks.
AGING: in small oak barrels for twelve months and then in bottle.

It is the perfect foil for paté de foie gras appetizers and it is excellent with herbed, goat and sharp cheeses. It also goes well with biscuits.
This is simply a marvelous sipping wine.
Serve at 8-12° C..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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