VINO DELLA CASA - HUISWIJN - HOUSE WINE

Before you think that we also make wine ourselves: no, we asked one of our suppliers to deliver two of his wines to us without his own label, so that we could make our Casa San Carlo house wine from them 🙂

This white house wine is the 'Arghirò' from the winery Vigneti de Santis. It is a Vermentino, which you often drink in Tuscany and until a few years ago it was not very common in Umbria. The grapes for this wine grow on the hills of the area called 'Bosco', between Perugia and Gubbio at an altitude of 400 meters. The wine is made by friend Francesco, who in daily life is a surgeon in the hospital of Perugia. But he is also a good winemaker!

The Arghirò is a wonderfully fresh wine with a beautiful light yellow color and a refined, surprisingly long finish. It is quite fruity in taste and perfect as a fine aperitif wine on a sunny day.

Alcohol percentage: 13%.

GRAPES: 100% Vermentino

'VILLA CONVERSINO BIANCO' (Biologico) - CANTINA DI FILIPPO

For 17 years we have been selling the organic wines of winery Di Filippo, located just outside the village of Cannara, in the region around Montefalco. They have a wide range of very good quality wines, and everything that is made here is biodynamic. The Villa Conversino is very accessible, a blend of Trebbiano and Grechetto. A tasteful, fruity wine to start the evening with: that's the best way to describe the Villa Conversino . Ideal as an aperitivo or as an accompaniment to light starters.

UVA: Trebbiano / Grechetto

FLAMINIO - Grechetto/Trebbiano - Cantina Mevante

YOUNG AND REFRESHING!

Paolo and Antonella Presciutti, brother and sister, have a fresh perspective on producing 'modern' wines, partly thanks to their young age. They attach great importance to the Umbrian tradition of winemaking, but at the same time they are also very aware of the wishes of today's consumers and do not shy away from 'experimenting'. Where the winery Mevante is located in a region (Bevagna, below Montefalco), where normally Grechetto is produced then, Trebbiano Spoletino is produced, they decided on a 50-50 blend of both grape varieties. And that produces a result that is as surprising as it is refreshing: the 'Flaminio'.

This 'Flaminio' is named after the engineer Gaius Flaminius who had one of the most important roads in Italy built around 220 BC. The Via Flaminia is still one of the main arteries that connects Rome to the outside world.

The Flaminio is therefore a 50-50 blend of Grechetto and Trebbiano Spolentino, but because the vineyards are just outside the boundaries of Spoleto, they may not be mentioned as such on the label.

The Grechetto is a fairly hard grape with often very pronounced acids and minerals due to the volcanic and calcareous soil around Montefalco and Bevagna. It is a wine that holds its own but also lends itself perfectly to a blend with other grape varieties to give the palette an extra dimension. And that's exactly what the Trebbiano does in this blend. What first strikes you on the nose is a combination of fresh, young citrus fruit with also something of yellower fruit, such as pineapple and white plum.

The taste confirms the smell, because where the Grechetto is the first to assert itself with its refined acidity and its mineral finish, the Trebbiano almost immediately mixes with its softer notes and more floreal flavors. This also gives the wine a nice, fairly long aftertaste.

And that makes the Flaminio both a wine that you can drink on its own on a beautiful spring or summer evening (or delicious while cooking;) and also a wine that we would recommend with a nice risotto based on seafood (mussels, vongole) and even on a more creamy base with, for example, mushrooms, minced veal and pecorino cheese. When you think of meat dishes, it could be a stewed chicken. The 'Flaminio': a delicious spring recommendation!

Alcohol percentage: 13%.

IL NOCIO - Vermentino - Cantina Ravazzi

Deliciously fresh, floral, you smell a little lime... you could call this Vermentino the ideal summer 'drink' wine, but that may sound too 'baggy'. Because it is a good quality wine, with quite a bit of power and taste! Especially for a young Vermentino the lively acids are easy to observe. It should also be drunk young, preferably with fresh fish.

Torben and Klaartje have it in the refrigerator at home for the countless terrace hours in the summer: ideal to open up in case of unexpected visitors. Because many people love Vermentino, as a grape variety! Also in the Netherlands, during our most recent Wine Food Dinners at the beginning of April, the Nocio was eagerly purchased by the participants at the table. Salute!

VITALONGA Rosé - Azienda Agricola Vitalonga

Also a summer favorite: the Vitalonga Rosé from the winery of the same name in Ficulle, a pleasant combination of Merlot grapes and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The color is bright and tight, in terms of scents raspberry, pink grapefruit and pomegranate predominate. In the mouth, this 'vino rosato' is pleasantly fresh (so again: certainly not sweet!) and it is nice and 'juicy'. The wine is balanced and balanced in taste. A very good rosé for a sunny evening on the terrace or in the garden!

PIANA GRANDE - Orvieto Classico Superiore - Castello di Corbara

Our guests at Casa San Carlo may have already experienced the wines of Castello di Corbara during one of our wine tours to the wine estate. It is a large winery, with many special vineyards spread over an area of 1000 hectares, beautifully situated near Lake Corbara, just outside Orvieto on the way to Todi.

They produce about ten fine wines, in different price ranges. For example, there is a divine Calistri (Sangiovese Riserva) that is mouth-watering but thanks to its more exclusive character is also really wine that you can save for special occasions. Also from Castello di Corbara is another of our favorites: a very special white Grechetto-Sauvignon Blanc, called Orzalume (see also in this bar).

This Orvieto Classico Superiore is of very good quality and fresh in taste, one of those that you would like to pour another glass of... (and another). You smell ripe fruit, especially pear and apricot; The color is beautiful straw yellow.

The wine is the result of a mix of different grape varieties, mainly Grechetto and Malvasia, and a little Sauvignon. The grapes grow in the vineyards that are located on the western side of the estate, at about 200 meters above sea level. The soil is clayey, and limited production of high quality is ensured. The vinification takes place in steel containers, the alcoholic fermentation takes about a month at a controlled temperature and with selected yeasts. The wine is in the bottle for about 2 months before they are put on the market.

Alcohol percentage: 13%.

UVA - DRUIVEN - GRAPES: Grechetto, Malvasia e Sauvignon Blanc

THEROS ROSATO - Nuova Tenuta Paradiso

The Rosé Theros from Nuova Tenuta Paradiso is a very special wine when it comes to our small micro-region of Monteleone and the surrounding area. In any case, a rosé of this calibre is a rarity in Italy, let alone Umbria. Between our beloved Monteleone and Città della Pieve we find this Tenuta that only uses 3 of the 5 vineyards at the moment. They are a young company in this region and they make 3 variants of wine so far. All from Pinot Nero. A red wine, a spumante wine and this rosé. The other vines are simply too young and we still have to wait for the wines that will bring them.

The Theros Rosé has a delicate, perhaps un-Italian, Provençal pink. On the nose, it is fresh, clean and inviting, with scents such as cherry, wild strawberry, violet and even fresh mint. In terms of taste, it is remarkably fresh, delicate and very tasty, thirst-quenching and nicely balanced, with a finish of pink grapefruit. Perfect aperitif, delicious with pink shrimp tartare. But it is also an excellent combination for sea fish, freshwater fish and the less salty pasta dishes.

Alcohol percentage: 12.50%

UVA - GRAPES - GRAPES: 100% Pinot Nero

TREBBIANO SPOLETINO - Cantina Le Cimate

This Trebbiano is characterized by its excellent acid/fruity ratio. The scent immediately reminds of yellow peach and apricot. Don't drink it too cold, because then much of its powerful taste will be lost. This wine calls for a combination with starch, for example 'bruschette' with a little olive oil or with toppings based on cream cheese (not with tomato!). But of course the beautiful full pastas with fresh zucchini and eggplant or with smoked salmon and/or tuna are also a feast in combination with this delicious Trebbiano.

Vinification in stainless steel (6 months), aging in the bottle (6 months).

Alcohol percentage: 13.5%, to be served at 10 degrees.

ORZALUME - GRECHETTO SAUVIGNON - Castello di Corbara

For years a favorite with our webshop customers and our guests in Casa San Carlo! This is a wine for the lover of a beautiful glass of white wine with its own character. The unique combination of the freshness of the Grechetto grape with the full flavor of the Sauvignon grape makes the wine special.

After three months of aging in small French oak barrels, 2 months of aging in the bottle, you really have a beautiful, firm white wine in your glass. It is the perfect accompaniment to heartier antipasti or a somewhat heavier primo piatto with fish. In short: you really have to have lunch or dinner with this, this is not a 'simple drink wine'. A wine not to be forgotten in a hurry!

UVA - GRAPES - GRAPES: Grechetto, Sauvignon.

VINO DELLA CASA - HUISWIJN - HOUSE WINE - Vignafante Rosso - Le Cimate

Just like the white house wine, our red house wine also comes from winery Le Cimate, in Montefalco. It is nicely accessible, nice and easy to drink but with enough body, so certainly not a 'slobber wine'. It contains a very refined and light tannin, and it is nicely balanced because it does not give a 'dry mouth'. Although the Sangiovese and Merlot grape varieties generally provide a deep ruby red color, the vinification has made the color more like a Pinot Noir and that alone makes it interesting. Surprisingly fresh in taste and can be drunk as well as with a pasta with a meat sauce or lighter meat.

Alcohol percentage: 14%

UVA - GRAPES: Sangiovese 70%, Merlot 30%

ELCIONE - Cantina Vitalonga

Just outside Ficulle is the beautiful winery Vitalonga. At first we really only wanted to buy a rosé there... but came home with the red, full Elcione. And we've been gifting it for 16 years now!

This wine has been allowed to mature in wood for 6 months and you can taste that in the aftertaste (fruity with traces of nuts and vanilla). The wine goes perfectly with typical autumn and winter dishes, such as game (the Umbrian specialty is 'cinghiale' = wild boar!), mushrooms and pasta with meat sauces. It is also an ideal ending to a cheese board with medium-aged cheeses.

UVA - GRAPES: Merlot (100%).

'Brandesco' - Merlot Umbria IGT (2022) - Tenuta Monteleone

BACK FROM NEVER REALLY BEING AWAY!

This 100% Merlot from our neighbor Dino Anemone and his family here from Monteleone d'Orvieto was simply called '1053' after the 'year of birth of Monteleone d'Orvieto' when we first sold it more than 15 years ago and it was our house wine in Casa San Carlo for years.

Now the Merlot is originally a French grape, but the very calcareous and clayey soil of 'our' hill gives it a beautiful quirky character here. The soil, infused with minerals, and the Mediterranean climate provide ideal conditions for the ripening of these grapes. The result is a wine that combines the powerful expression of the Merlot grape with the distinctive characteristics of the local terroir. What is also immediately noticeable is the deep and very vibrant ruby red color.

In the scents we recognize seductive aromas of ripe red berries, plums and a hint of spiciness. The wine has fine and subtle scents of pure cocoa and vanilla and a light hint of the typical 'stable' scent of the Merlot.

It is beautifully full, silky smooth and beautifully accessible. The flavors such as juicy cherries and blackcurrants are balanced by its tannins and a refreshing acidity. The finish is long-lasting and leaves a pleasant memory of the rich fruitiness and complex structure of this 'Monteleone di Orvieto Merlot'.

This wine is best served at a temperature of about 15-16 degrees Celsius. It is an excellent accompaniment to grilled red meats, pasta with rich sauces or ripe cheeses, but less so with blue cheeses.

Alcohol percentage: 14%

Montefalco Rosso - Cantina Le Cimate

Usually a Montefalco Rosso is made with a blend of (at least) 70% Sangiovese and 30% other grapes such as Merlot and Sagrantino.

However, this is a completely new blend for us and partly for this reason we wrote in the tasting notes: 'Montefalco Rosso from another planet!' It was a really pleasant discovery, this 'different than usual' Montefalco Rosso that winemaker Paolo served us the tasting afternoon in his winery.

The Sangiovese (60%) matures in large wooden barrels (12 months), the Sagrantino (20%) in small oak barrels (for 18 months) and only then do the Refosco (10%) and the Tannat (10%) mature. Then the grapes are combined and the wine matures for another 6 months in the bottle. This vinification method makes this wine incredibly rich and complex in scents and flavors such as dark (dried) plum and dark cherries. Soft and round in the mouth. Alcohol percentage: 14.5%.

UVA - GRAPES - GRAPES: Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Merlot

'BORIOSO' - CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA DOCG - Cantina Ravazzi

Those who have known us for a long time know that we have been jokingly shouting to our guests for 16 years: 'be careful, here in Casa San Carlo no wine from Tuscany comes in! We live, live, taste and promote Umbria!' And that's still true, it has been our personal goal for 16 years to pull the Umbrian wines out of the shadow of the overrepresented (and often steeply priced) Tuscan wines. But Casa San Carlo is right on the border with Tuscany... just cross the road in the valley and after 10 minutes you enter Palazzone, which is really Tuscany... And that's just the way to the warm thermal baths, which we enjoy so much in winter after a day of gardening, for example. And along that road... is located cantina Ravazzi. Well. Then it is difficult for wine lovers to drive on... ai, ai, ai...

So we gave in. But only for Alberto Ravazzi. Because he not only makes very good wines, his bottles are also so beautiful! And that's what Klaartje falls for. So lo and behold: you suddenly find a Chianti Classico Riserva in our Umbrian range. The 'Borioso', which means 'conceited'. And we think that's a good joke: a Tuscan wine that considers itself conceited. But he has good reason to be conceited, because wine connoisseur Luca Maroni awarded this wine no less than 92 (!) points.

This beautiful ruby red wine has aged for no less than 18 months in wood and 3 months in bottle. You can smell the typical scents of a good Chianti: a mix of spices, ripe red fruits and cherries. It is a structured wine, beautifully dry, soft and pleasant tannins that return throughout the mouth. To be served at a temperature of 16-18 degrees Celsius, with roasted meat, poultry or aged cheeses.

UVA - GRAPES - GRAPES: 75% Sangiovese - 25% Canaiolo.

DIVINA VILLA TRASIMENO GAMAY RISERVA - Duca della Corgna

This soft, full-bodied red wine wins prize after prize: Luca Maroni gave this wine no less than 97 points, the AIS guide awarded this wine no less than 4 symbols (the highest score), and he won the gold medal in the Grenaches du Monde.

It has to be said: when we settle down at our favorite restaurant Bistrot del Duca in Città della Pieve, chef and friend Christian immediately puts an 'Etichetta nera' on the table. Every time we look forward to the first sip, after we have put our nose in the wine glass to sniff the complex scent (undergrowth, wild berry!). The palate is full-bodied, round and elegant, and you can taste refined spices (alcohol: 13.5%). Sublime with grilled red meat and game birds, but let's be honest: we drink it with everything Christian serves us: from his carpaccio d'oca, via his ravioli with tartufo to the closing cheese board.

GRAPES: 100% Gamay Perugino

Enjoy our delicious wines AT HOME

"As lovers of good wines with a personal story (and as promoters of our beautiful region of Umbria), we have enjoyed visiting countless winegrowers in our region over the past 12 years and tasting all their wines. Looking for special wines that you usually don't find in the supermarket, but that do deserve a place on our wine list. So that our guests in Casa San Carlo can drink these wines during the season and our customers of our webshop can also order them to enjoy at home! In our bar we only have a small selection of all wines from our webshop in stock. So be sure to visit our webshop!"

www.casasancarlo.shop

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