Sagrantino
Umbria's Boldest Hidden Grape
Powerful. Age-worthy. Unforgettable.
Sagrantino is often considered the world's most tannic grape. Native to the hills of Montefalco in Umbria, it produces some of Italy's most powerful, age-worthy and unforgettable red wines.
Often described as the world's most tannic grape, Sagrantino rewards patience, revealing layer upon layer of dark fruit, spice and complexity over time.
For those who believe great wines should leave a lasting impression, Sagrantino is a remarkable discovery.
Forget Everything You Think You Know About Big Red Wines
People often mistake power for heaviness.
Sagrantino proves they're not the same.
Behind its firm tannins lies remarkable freshness, elegance and precision. Given time, it transforms into one of Italy's most complex and rewarding wines.
This isn't a wine that shouts.
It's a wine that rewards patience.
What is Sagrantino?
Sagrantino is an indigenous red grape variety grown almost exclusively around the medieval hill town of Montefalco in Umbria, often called the "Green Heart of Italy."
With thick skins and exceptionally high levels of tannins and polyphenols, Sagrantino produces wines that are powerful, structured and among Italy's longest-lived reds.
Despite its remarkable quality, production remains limited, making Sagrantino one of Italy's best-kept wine secrets.
What Makes Sagrantino So Special?
The world's most tannic grape
Sagrantino naturally contains some of the highest tannin levels of any wine grape, creating exceptional structure and ageing potential.
Born for ageing
Time transforms Sagrantino. As the wine matures, its firm tannins soften while complex aromas of dried fruit, leather, cocoa and spice emerge.
A true Umbrian original
Unlike many famous Italian grapes grown across multiple regions, Sagrantino remains deeply rooted in Montefalco, where generations of winemakers continue to preserve its unique identity.
Ancient Roots
The origins of Sagrantino stretch back centuries, with many believing the grape was cultivated by Franciscan monks for use in religious celebrations.
Its name is thought to derive from sagra, meaning sacred feast, reflecting its historical connection to ceremonies and local traditions.
Today, Sagrantino has become the flagship grape of Montefalco and one of Italy's most distinctive indigenous varieties.
DID YOU KNOW
Sagrantino is often considered the world's most tannic grape.
Its exceptionally thick skins naturally produce wines with extraordinary structure and longevity. While bold in its youth, time transforms Sagrantino into one of Italy's most elegant and complex red wines.
Sagrantino at a Glance
Style
Dry red
Body
Full-bodied
Structure
Very high tannins • Rich acidity
Aromas
Blackberries • Black cherries • Plum • Cocoa • Leather • Tobacco • Sweet spices
Ageing Potential
Excellent. Often 20–30 years or more.
Perfect With
Braised beef • Wild game • Truffle dishes • Aged Pecorino • Slow-cooked lamb
Why Porcalorca Chose Sagrantino
Some wines are easy to love.
Others ask for your attention.
Sagrantino belongs to the second category.
It is a wine that reflects patience, craftsmanship and a deep respect for tradition. Every glass tells the story of Umbria's rolling hills, the people who cultivate them, and a grape that refuses to compromise.
Some wines ask to be enjoyed.
Sagrantino asks to be understood.
That's exactly why we chose it for Porcalorca.
Meet the Region & Winemakers
Umbria
Italy's Green Heart
Unlike its famous neighbour Tuscany, Umbria remains wonderfully undiscovered. Its rolling hills, limestone-rich soils and warm days balanced by cool nights create ideal conditions for producing structured, elegant wines with remarkable ageing potential.
Montefalco stands at the centre of this landscape, where Sagrantino has become the region's unmistakable signature.
Romanelli
Where family and tradition shape every bottle
At Romanelli, Sagrantino isn't treated as a grape to tame - it is respected for exactly what it is: powerful, authentic and deeply connected to Montefalco's landscape.
Their wines capture the spirit of Umbria: bold yet refined, deeply rooted in the land and made to be shared around the table. It's this combination of authenticity, craftsmanship and genuine hospitality that made Romanelli a natural partner for Porcalorca.
Discover Sagrantino at Porcalorca
Explore our collection of Sagrantino wines and experience one of Italy's most powerful and age-worthy indigenous grape varieties.
UMBRIA
If Sagrantino embodies the structure, energy, and longevity of Montefalco’s wines, Rosso represents the everyday soul of the territory. Capo de Casa is born from the vineyards of Colle San Clemente, on clay and calcareous-silty soils, from a blend of Sangiovese, Sagrantino, and Merlot. It is a balanced and dynamic wine, combining freshness with depth, a faithful companion to the seasons and the table. Its name recalls the “house wine” of the past, once produced from the grape varieties present in the vineyard and enjoyed during family moments and shared meals.
Grape variety
Sangiovese 65%, Sagrantino 15%, Merlot 20%.
Vineyards of origin
Estate-owned vineyards in Colle San Clemente, Montefalco, at 350 meters above sea level.
Soil: Clay and calcareous-silty loam.
Training system: Spurred Cordon.
Season in the field: Manual harvest in October, with grapes at full phenolic ripeness.
Average yield: 80 q/ha, 5000 vines per hectares.
Vinification
Grapes, harvested and manually picked at full phenolic ripeness, remain in contact with the skins for about 30–45 days, allowing complete extraction of color, aromas, and tannins.
Aging: Aged for at least 18 months in different types of containers, depending on the vineyard of origin, followed by bottle refinement.
Tasting notes
Bright ruby red color. On the nose, aromas of cherry and blackberry blend with subtle spice and a delicate vegetal note. On the palate, structured yet refined, fresh and vibrant, with excellent persistence and balance that invites another sip.
Pairings
Appetizers and first courses from Umbrian tradition, cheeses, cured meats, and rich dishes typical of the Montefalco area. Excellent with first courses featuring black truffle.
Alcohold content and serving temperature
Alcohol content: 14,5% Vol.
Serving temperature: 16 - 18°C.
End
UMBRIA
From the heart of Umbria, on the sun-kissed slopes of Colle San Clemente in Montefalco, comes Terra Cupa, the most iconic Sagrantino from Romanelli Winery. Its name recalls the ancient toponym of the road that runs alongside the estate’s most prestigious vineyard — a site blessed with ideal altitude, exposure, and soil composition. Here, small pebbles mix with clay and limestone, yielding grapes of remarkable aromatic concentration and firm, noble tannins. A wine that embodies the truest spirit of Sagrantino: power, elegance, and longevity.
Grape variety
100% Sagrantino
Vineyards of origin
Selection of the ideal grapes for this wine from Estate-owned vineyards located at 350 meters above sea level in Colle San Clemente, Montefalco (PG).
Soil: Clay and limestone with small pebbles, excellent drainage capacity.
Training system: Spurred Cordon.
Season in the field: Very consistent vintage. A cool and rainy spring was followed by a warm but not excessive summer.
A perfect autumn harvest in terms of weather conditions and grape qualitys.
Average yield: 50 q/ha, 5000 vines per hectares.
Vinification
Grapes, harvested and manually picked at full phenolic ripeness, remain in contact with the skins for about 60 days, allowing complete extraction of color, aromas, and tannins.
Aging: Maturation takes place in oak barrels of various capacities (225–2500 liters) for about 24 months, followed by further bottle aging of at least 12 months before release.
Tasting notes
Deep ruby red with garnet reflections. The bouquet is intense and complex: wild blackberry, ripe cherry, and plumintertwine with balsamic notes, hints of wild herbs, and delicate spicy nuances of black pepper and clove. On the palate, it is powerful and full-bodied, with dense yet finely integrated tannins, a surprising freshness, and a long, elegant, and persistent finish, where fruity and spicy sensations return.
Pairings
Perfect with rich and flavorful dishes: legume and grain soups, stuffed pasta with game ragout, roasted lamb or pork, braised meats and slow-cooked game, aged hard cheeses like Pecorino or Parmigiano Reggiano 36 months.
Alcohold content and serving temperature
Alcohol content: 16% Vol.
Serving temperature: 16 - 18°C.
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UMBRIA
Molinetta takes its name from an old mill that once stood next to the production area. It comes from a single plot in Colle San Clemente, Montefalco, characterized by sandy-clay-loam soils with limestone deposits. Here, Sangiovese—complemented by a small percentage of Sagrantino—produces wines of remarkable energy, depth, and longevity. Made only in vintages Romanelli considers exceptional, when terroir, variety, climate, and vineyard work come together in perfect harmony.
Grape variety
Sangiovese 80%, Sagrantino 20%.
Vineyards of origin
Estate-owned vineyards in Colle San Clemente, Montefalco, at 350 meters above sea level.
Soil: Sandy-clay-loam with limestone content.
Training system: Spurred Cordon and Guyot.
Season in the field: Manual harvest in October, with grapes at full phenolic ripeness.
Average yield: 70 q/ha, 5000 vines per hectares.
Vinification
Grapes, harvested and manually picked at full phenolic ripeness, maceration on the skins for 45–60 days to extract color, aromas, and noble tannins.
Aging: Aged for at least 24 months in 2,400-liter French oak barrels, followed by at least 12 months of bottle aging.
Tasting notes
Deep ruby red color. The bouquet opens with a rich array of wild berries, cherries, and plums, complemented by elegant toasted notes. On the palate, structure, elegance, and roundness blend harmoniously with firm yet well-integrated tannins.
Pairings
Perfect with grilled red meats, roasts, cured meats, and aged cheeses.
Alcohold content and serving temperature
Alcohol content: 15% Vol.
Serving temperature: 16 - 18°C.
End
FAQs
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Sagrantino is an indigenous red grape variety native to Montefalco in Umbria. Known for its exceptionally high tannin levels, it produces powerful, full-bodied wines with remarkable ageing potential and complex aromas of dark fruit, spice and cocoa.
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Sagrantino is grown almost exclusively around Montefalco in the heart of Umbria, Italy's only landlocked region. The area's rolling hills, limestone-rich soils and warm days balanced by cool nights provide ideal conditions for this unique grape.
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Sagrantino is bold and intensely structured, with flavours of black cherry, blackberry, plum and blackberry jam, layered with notes of cocoa, tobacco, leather, sweet spices and Mediterranean herbs. As it ages, the wine becomes increasingly elegant and complex.
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Sagrantino has naturally thick grape skins, giving it one of the highest concentrations of tannins found in any wine grape. These tannins provide structure, complexity and the ability to age gracefully for decades.
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Sagrantino is widely recognised as one of the world's most tannic grape varieties. Its naturally high tannin content gives the wines exceptional structure and longevity, making them unlike almost any other Italian red wine.
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Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG is the highest quality designation for dry Sagrantino wines produced around Montefalco. Strict production rules help preserve the grape's authenticity, quality and unique connection to its place of origin.
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Yes. Sagrantino is one of Italy's most age-worthy red wines. While powerful in its youth, time softens its tannins and reveals greater complexity, with many wines evolving beautifully for 20 years or more.
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Sagrantino pairs beautifully with grilled beef, braised lamb, wild game, truffle dishes, mushroom risotto and mature cheeses. Its bold structure also makes it an excellent companion to slow-cooked dishes and rich Italian cuisine.
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Although highly respected among wine enthusiasts, Sagrantino is produced in relatively small quantities and remains largely exclusive to Montefalco. Its limited production and strong regional identity make it one of Italy's true hidden gems.
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Because Sagrantino embodies everything we admire about Italian wine: authenticity, patience and a deep connection to place. Through our partnership with the Romanelli family, we're proud to share one of Umbria's most distinctive indigenous grapes and the remarkable story behind every bottle.
Go Deeper Into Sagrantino
There’s more to this grape than one page can hold. From its ancient roots to its modern rediscovery, here’s where the story continues.