Arnaldo Caprai Sagrantino
Arnaldo Caprai is a winery located in the heart of Montefalco, a small town in the Umbria region of Italy.
Founded in the 1970s by Arnaldo Caprai, the winery is now run by his son Marco, who has continued his father’s legacy of producing exceptional wines that showcase the unique terroir of this region in Italy.
I met with Marco in the interest of tasting his Sagrantino wine.
The winery’s flagship wines is Sagrantino di Montefalco, a powerful red wine made from the Sagrantino grape variety.
Sagrantino is an indigenous grape to the region, and it is known for its bold tannins and intense flavors.
It is a grape that requires a lot of care and attention, both in the vineyard and in the winery, to reach its full potential.
In the Caprai Winery
At Arnaldo Caprai, the Sagrantino grapes are grown on the estate’s vineyards, which cover over 300 hectares.
The vineyards are located at an altitude of 300-400 meters above sea level, and the soil is a mix of clay and limestone, which gives the wines their characteristic minerality.
The grapes are hand-harvested and carefully sorted before being crushed and fermented.
The wine is then aged in oak barrels for at least 12 months before being bottled.
The result is a wine that is rich and full-bodied, with aromas of dark fruit, spices, and leather.
Sagrantino di Montefalco is a wine that is often compared to Barolo and Brunello di Montalcino, two of Italy’s most famous wines.
However, Sagrantino has a character all its own, thanks to its unique terroir and the care and attention given to it by the winemakers at Arnaldo Caprai.
In addition to Sagrantino di Montefalco, Arnaldo Caprai also produces other wines, including a Grechetto, a white wine made from the Grechetto grape variety, and a Montefalco Rosso, a red wine made from a blend of Sangiovese, Sagrantino, and Merlot grapes.
The winery is also known for its innovative winemaking techniques, including the use of barriques and the use of oak chips during fermentation.
But perhaps the most important thing about Arnaldo Caprai is the way it has helped to revive the Sagrantino grape variety and the winemaking traditions of Montefalco.
When Arnaldo Caprai started producing wine in the 1970s, Sagrantino was a little-known grape variety that was mostly used to make sweet wines.
Today, thanks in part to the efforts of Arnaldo Caprai, Sagrantino di Montefalco is recognized as one of Italy’s great wines, and it is enjoyed by wine lovers around the world.
It was a pleasure to meet Mr. Comprai and taste this rare “Super Umbrian” wine.
Arnaldo Caprai is a winery that has played a vital role in the revival of the Sagrantino grape variety and the winemaking traditions of Montefalco.
With its commitment to quality and innovation, Arnaldo Caprai has helped to put Montefalco on the map as one of Italy’s most important wine regions.
And with its exceptional Sagrantino di Montefalco, the winery has created a wine that is truly unique, reflecting the terroir and the spirit of the Umbria region.
