Sagrantino is a local Umbrian red grape that is intimately associated with the pretty medieval town of Montefalco. In fact, the wine’s name is Montefalco Sagrantino, even though it can also be made in a portion of the territories of the nearby communes of Bevagna (even prettier than Montefalco), Gualdo Cattaneo, Castel Ritaldi and Giano dell’Umbria (Montefalco is the only commune the territory of which is completely included within the denomination’s production limits). The grape and its wine, Montefalco Sagrantino, have come to characterize Umbrian wine production (much like Orvieto white wines did back in the 1970s). Since 1992, when the denomination became a DOCG, Montefalco Sagrantino vineyards have increased from the less than one hundred hectares of decades ago to today’s roughly 400 hectares. Annual bottle output is around one million/year, but even more can be made.
