Decugnano dei Barbi

With Decugnano dei Barbi today in Orvieto there is talk of a rebirth of the denomination, much is also due to the extraordinary work carried out over the past thirty years by this winery. A winery that was founded in the late seventies and immediately decided to focus decisively on the quality of its production. Not only whites, but also reds and sparkling wines, types that were then decidedly unusual for the area. It is thanks to them, for example, that today Orvieto is famous for the precious sweet wines produced in the area. In fact, in the early 1980s, the first Italian bottle was produced from grapes attacked by what is commonly known as noble rot, in the manner of the famous wines of Sauternes, near Bordeaux. The estate is located right in front of the famous fortress of Orvieto, in the heart of the ancient production area of Orvieto Classico. The location is unique, the panorama is marvellous, the exposure of the vineyards ideal. An estate, Decugnano dei Barbi, whose sole aim has always been the total quality of its wines. The rows of vines, which cover a total surface area of around thirty-two hectares, are planted on soils characterised by yellow sands, clays and fossils. The vine varieties are Grechetto, Procanico, Vermentino, Verdello, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon for white grapes, and Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir for red grapes. In all cases, trained using the guyot method and planted at a density of around 4,500 vines per hectare, the vines punctually yield fine, straightforward, concentrated and rich bunches. Without using insecticides and chemical herbicides, treatments are reduced to a minimum and agronomic management respects the balance of environment, nature and ecosystem to the utmost. This is how Il Bianco, Il Rosso, Maris, Villa Barbi Bianco, Villa Barbi Rosso and Pourritoure Noble were born in the cellar, ending with Metodo Classico, Umbria's first champenoise wine produced in 1978. Labels, those of the Decugnano dei Barbi wine cellar, capable of excitement and of narrating the best oenological essence of the green heart of Italy.