Decugnano dei Barbi

13 Apr Decugnano dei Barbi

winery: Decugnano dei Barbi
grape blend: 50% Grechetto, 20% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Vermentino, 10% Procanico
provenance: Orvieto DOC, Umbria, Italy

the winery
Decugnano dei Barbi’s first written record dates back to 1212 where wine was made onsite for Orvieto’s clergy. In
1973 Claudio Barbi discovered Decugnano and the first wines under his ownership were produced in 1978. While
they aren’t certified organic, they aim to make wines in a sustainable fashion, without employing insecticides,
chemical fertilizers or weed killers.

the region and it’s grapes
The wine appellation, or DOC (Denominazione di origine controllata), of Orvieto is located in the larger central Italian region of picturesque Umbria, which is the only Italian region without access to either the sea or international borders. This lush and sparsely populated land is affectionately referred to as the “green heart of Italy.” Within Umbria there are several DOC appellations. Orvieto DOC is named after the beautiful and ancient volcanic hilltop town around which the grapes are planted, where it’s wine history dates to 700 B.C! Orvieto is famous for it’s crisp and minerally white wines, where the grape vines grow in a variety of ancient oceanic and volcanic soils, varying from sand to limestone, with sea shells and oyster fossils tossed in the mix. Within the appellation of Orvieto there are four DOC’s:

• Orvieto DOC
• Orvieto Classico DOC (Your wine club wine. This is a subregion within the larger base appellation where vines are
planted in premium locations.)
• Orvieto Superiore DOC
• Orvieto Classico Superiore DOC
Grechetto and Trebbiano are Orvieto’s most widely planted grapes, but several other white grapes are allowed in the
mix. The grape blend for this wine is listed above; Procanico is a local clone of Trebbiano.
travel tips
If you’re ever want to plan a wine country visit while vacationing in Rome or Florence, Decugnano dei Barbi is absolutely the place to stay for a couple days! Their gorgeous estate “offers a stunning view on Umbria hills and vineyards,” where you can “lay back on a lounge chair in the pool deck and enjoy the warm afternoon sun, and sit under the loggia as you sip a glass of Decugnano dei Barbi wine and admire a beautiful sunset, or prepare an alfresco feast on the barbecue. Spend a peaceful evening around an antique wood-burning fireplace surrounded by elegant and refined furnishing and dine with your friends or family around a grand oval table. Let the local cook and expert waitresses spoil you and your friends during your weekly stay.” www.decugnanodeibarbi.com

serving suggestions
Crostini with roasted tomatoes, olive oil, shaved parmigiano reggiano; dishes with fennel or basil; gazpacho; grilled fish with a citrus base