Wine Experiences Umbria

Umbria is the only region in central Italy whose borders are not bathed by the Mediterranean sea. Despite this, Umbria’s territory holds a great charm thanks to its green hills dotted with vineyards and olive trees, fascinating old villages and artistic richness. In this region, you will be able to enjoy various wine tastings while visiting its wineries tucked away in the countryside.

During your visits to Umbria’s wineries, you will have the opportunity to dive into the region’s winemaking traditions. While the quality of wines was already recognized amongst the Romans, it was in the 1960s that viticulture in Umbria started gaining importance again with the recognition of the region’s first DOC wine, Torgiano, then recognized as Torgiano Rosso Riserva DOCG in 1990. The region boasts also another DOCG wine, Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG, as well as 12 DOC and 6 IGT wines.

While in Umbria, you will learn that the key ingredient of its traditional cuisine is simplicity. During your wine tastings in this region, you will often be offered a taste of other products made by the wineries, such as their very own extra virgin olive oil. We also recommend tasting a few of Umbria’s most traditional dishes, like torta al testo (a sort of flatbread), strangozzi with Norcia’s truffle, pappardelle with hare ragù, cardoon Parmigiana and porchetta.

Your wine tastings in Umbria will most likely include both red and white wines, as the region’s wine production is almost equally divided between the two. Within its rather small territory, Umbria boasts 17.000 hectares of vineyards characterized by a small yield to hectare ratio, which is usually a sign of high quality. The most widespread white grape variety in Umbria is Grechetto, followed by Trebbiano Toscano, Malvasia Bianca, Verdello, Canaiolo Bianco and Procanico. The most common red grape varieties are instead Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo, Canaiolo Nero, Montepulciano, Barbera and Sagrantino. Some international grape varieties are found in the region’s territory as well, such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Riesling.

You can book wine tastings and winery visits in Umbria across all seasons. Summer is indicated for those wine lovers who want to explore the Umbrian countryside on the back of a horse or on a mountain bike, while spring and autumn are preferred by those who want to visit Umbria’s cities and medieval towns.

During your time in Umbria, don’t limit yourself to visiting its wineries. A few of the region’s highlights that are worth seeing include Perugia, famous for its Baci, Assisi and its San Francesco church, Orvieto and its cathedral, Spoleto, the small town of Gubbio and its main square and the suggestive Marmore Falls.

The average price of a wine tasting with winery visit in Umbria is around €24. Depending on the experience, prices range from €8 to €40. Booking in advance ensures availability and the best prices.

Here are the top wineries to visit in Umbria:

• Poggio Santa Maria
• Cantina Palazzone
• Cantina Napolini
• Di Colle in Colle Cantina
• Cantina Murogrosso
• LA MADELEINE
• Cantina Santo Iolo
• Azienda Agricola Castello di Corbara

Here are the best wine tastings to book in Umbria:

• Aperitif with guided tasting of 5 wines and scenic walk in the Vineyard of SAIO Assisi
• Discover Umbrian wines at Fonte di Bevagna
• San Francesco Tasting: Local Products & Wine Tasting at Cantina La Veneranda
• Rosso Passione: A Journey into the Land's Wines and Flavors at Cantina Giovannini
• Wine experience at Cantina Brugnoni
• Deluxe Picnic in the Vineyard with guided tasting at Saio Assisi
• Wine & Tradition: 5 Wines, Local Dishes and Vineyard Experience in Montefalco
• Wine Tasting of Trasimeno wines with Local Pairings at Cantina Di Colle