Sagrantino di Montefalco Passito Organic DOCG Antonelli

The Origins of the Antonelli San Marco Winery

The Antonelli San Marco estate is a historical pillar of Montefalco. More than just a winery, it is the story of how a family transformed an ancient estate into a model of elegance and sustainability in the heart of Umbria. It all began in the late 19th century. In 1881, Francesco Antonelli, a lawyer from Spoleto, purchased the San Marco estate. At the time, the property was a curtis (an agricultural court) belonging to the German-Hungarian College of Rome. Francesco began a deep transformation and modernization of the land, which was then managed under the sharecropping system. While the estate was already known for the quality of its products, it was under subsequent generations that winemaking became the central focus. Today, the estate spans roughly 190 contiguous hectares, 50 of which are under vine. In 2009, the winery began its conversion to organic farming, earning full certification with the 2012 harvest. This approach is not merely a market choice; it reflects a commitment to preserving the biodiversity of an ecosystem that includes forests, olive groves, and arable land. To minimize the visual impact on the Umbrian landscape and utilize natural temperature control, the fermentation cellar was built underground, allowing the grapes to be processed via gravity flow without the use of pumps that might stress the fruit

Characteristics and Tasting Notes

Antonelli Organic Sagrantino di Montefalco Passito represents the perfect synthesis of the winery's history and a modern, sustainable approach. The organic certification is a fundamental step in preserving the integrity of the Montefalco terroir. The appassimento (drying) process requires perfectly intact clusters. Under organic management, the vines develop natural defenses that make the skins where the tannins and aromas reside thicker and richer in extractive substances. Without invasive fertilizers, the roots reach deeper into the estate’s clay and limestone soils, imparting a more pronounced minerality and freshness to the wine. Appearance: An extremely deep ruby red, almost impenetrable, which develops profound garnet highlights with aging. Bouquet: A complex nose dominated by red fruit jam, dried plums, and morello cherries. Elegant tertiary notes follow, including bitter cocoa, sweet tobacco, and a light dusting of cinnamon. Palate: This is where the magic of Sagrantino happens. Despite being a sweet wine (with roughly 100–110 g/l of residual sugar), it is never cloying. The tannic structure is dense yet silky, creating a sharp contrast that cleanses the palate and invites another sip

How to Enjoy Antonelli Organic Sagrantino Passito

Compared to the dry (secco) version, Antonelli Organic Passito possesses an "old-world softness." While dry Sagrantino can sometimes be austere in its youth, the passito version is more welcoming from the start, though it maintains extraordinary aging potential (it can rest in the cellar for decades). It is an ideal wine for "meditation" (sipping on its own), but also pairs beautifully with red fruit tarts and dry pastries. It is one of the rare sweet wines capable of standing up to dark chocolate with a high cocoa percentage, or powerful aged and blue cheeses like spicy Gorgonzola