Cervaro della Sala IGT 2022 Marchesi Antinori

“Cervaro della Sala” is the famous label that Antinori produces in its estate in Umbria, not far from the Tuscan border. Created in 1985 by Riccardo Cotarella, it is one of the first Italian whites to undergo malolactic fermentation and aging in barriques. The name is a tribute to the history of the Castle of Sala depicted on the bottle: built in 1350 by Angelo Monaldeschi della Vipera, whose ancient family arrived in Italy following Charlemagne, the castle went through turbulent events of intrigue and family conflicts, until the period of renewed serenity initiated by the marriage of Pietro Antonio and Giovanna Monaldeschi della Cervara. Antinori produces “Cervaro della Sala” at the estate of the Castle of Sala, vinifying Chardonnay grapes and a percentage of Grechetto grapes from a clayey soil rich in marine fossils, over a calcareous base. The vineyards extend for 200 hectares north of Orvieto, with a northeast exposure, on slopes between 470 and 220 meters above sea level. The vinification operations take place separately for the two varieties, inside the cellar built to take advantage of gravity. The cold maceration of the skins at 10°C lasts for 4 days: the must is then transferred by gravity to steel decantation tanks, where a static clarification phase takes place. The alcoholic fermentation and malolactic fermentation of the Chardonnay occur in French oak barriques: after about 5 months of aging, it is transferred back to steel, blended with the Grechetto, which is processed exclusively in stainless steel tanks. After blending and a resting period, the wine is bottled and undergoes final bottle aging for about 10 months in the cellar.