More information on 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.

Which food to taste in Umbria?

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.

Which wines to taste in Umbria?

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.

Which is the best season to visit Umbria?

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.

What things to do in Umbria?

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.