2022 Antonelli Montefalco Grechetto

The estate purchased by Francesco Antonelli in 1881 had been owned and operated by the bishopric of Spoleto since the 13th century, with almost the same boundaries recorded in documents from that time. It took another 100 years before the Antonelli estate began bottling wines under their own label for commercialization. A couple decades later, the wines of Montefalco began to achieve international acclaim, mostly for the reds produced from the native sagrantino grape variety, which produces wines that rival those in Tuscany or Piedmont in power, complexity, and longevity. An unsung hero of Montefalco is the autochthonous white variety grechetto, which is a part of the recipe for Orvieto, among other things. In pure form, it shows a surprisingly firm structure, with crisp citrus and subtle floral notes. This would be fun with fresh cheeses and cured meats, hearty soups, or fish.