Antonelli San Marco is an organic estate in the Montefalco DOC region of Umbria, in central Italy. It produces Spoleto DOC white wines, and Montefalco Rosso DOC, Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG and Montefalco Sagrantino Passito DOCG red wines. It also produces wines under the Colli Martani DOC.

Background: The estate has been in the Antonelli family since 1881. Although originally from Spoleto, the family transferred to Rome five generations ago. Francesco Antonelli, a lawyer, bought and transformed the property. Stefano Antonelli, also a lawyer, and Marianna Antonelli maintained it with loving care. Giacomo Antonelli, yet another lawyer, and Antonio Antonelli, an engineer, enlarged the property and invested in viticulture. Filippo Antonelli has been at the helm of the estate since 1986. He divides his time between Montefalco and Rome where he manages another family wine estate, Castello di Torre in Pietra. Born in Rome in 1960, he graduated from Perugia University with a degree in agriculture. He was president of the “Consorzio Tutela Vini Montefalco” from 1996 to 2006.

Contact: Filippo Antonelli.

Staff: Oenologists: Paolo Salvi (Consulting Oenologist) and Massimiliano Caburazzi (Resident Oenologist). | Sales: Marco Baldovin. | Vineyard Consultant: Ruggero Mazzilli. | Vineyard Manager: Alessio Moretti. | Home Economist ‘Cucina in Cantina’: Wendy Aulsebrook.

Vineyards: 2017 175 hectares (432 acres) of land in total of which 50ha of vineyards. 350 metres (984 feet). Mainly Sagrantino and Sangiovese, plus Montepulciano, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon; Grechetto and Trebbiano Spoletino. Also have Sangiovese and Montepulciano. Looking to switch to guyot–whereas cordon is more common here. Newer vineyards have been replanted 5,700 vines per hectare (2.2 metres x 0.8 metres).

Organic certification: 2011 First vintage with full organic certification. 

Polyculture: 70ha of woods. Also olives, chickpeas. Free range pigs.

Culinary school: “Pork & cork” = meat from their free-range pigs served with their wine.

Winery: Gravity-fed cellar.

White wines

Colli Martani DOC, Grechetto: A Grechetto di Todi, Grechetto di Orvieto blend (Ian D’Agata, 2014, p.315).

Trebbiano Spoletino DOC: 100% Trebbiano Spoletino. Massale selection from old vines trained between maple trees. Cane pruned (guyot). The vines are on a hill 350 metres (1,148 feet). West-facing. Hand picked generally in the second half of October. Skin contact maceration, soft pressing, static cold clarification. Fermentation in 2,500-litre wooden casks. No temperature control. Age 6 months on fermentation lees for 6 months. | 2007 Debut.

Red wines

Umbria Rosso IGT, Baiocco: The name refers to an ancient coin of the Papal States, of which Umbria was once part. Made from 90% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot. Unoaked.

Umbria Rosso IGT, Contrario: The name refers to a new way of interpreting the Sagrantino grape variety, by making a fresher, earlier- drinking style of wine. | 2008 Debut.

Montefalco Rosso DOC: Made from (in order of picking) Merlot, Sangiovese and finally Montepulciano and Sagrantino. | 1979 Debut vintage.

Montefalco Rosso DOC Riserva: Made

Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG, Antonelli: 1981 Debut vintage. |  2011 45hl/ha. Nice evolution, lots of fruit (Collisioni, 16 July 2017).

Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG, Chiusa di Pannone: From Chiusa di Pannone, the name of their highest vineyard at 420 metres (1,400 feet). Their other vineyards are all at around 380 metres (1,266 feet). This faces south across a wide valley. Soils of Pleistocene origin, calcareous clay, rich in gravel and fluvio-lacustrine conglomerates. The vine rows follow the slopes. 2.7ha of vines. Mass selection (rather than clones). 5,500 vines per hectare (2,226 vines per acre. 2.50m x 0.80cm). Guyot. Said to show the following flavours, aromas: cherry, berry, aromatic herbs, citrus, mint, oregano.| 2003 Debut vintage. | 2010 Aged initially old oak barrels, then in larger wooden vats, then in concrete tanks. Lovely sweet fruit, ripe, energetic, a good big bruiser but with plenty of fruit and oak (Collisioni, 2017).

Montefalco Sagrantino Passito DOCG: 70% Sangiovese, 15% each Sagrantino and Montepulciano. Aged in 500-litre casks. 

Contact

Antonelli San Marco

Località San Marco, 60

I-06036 Montefalco (PG), Italy

Tel+39 0742.379158 | Website: www.antonellisanmarco.it /en/

Bibliography

Gilbert Winfield, 2011 Decanter Italy supplement, ‘Umbria awakes’, p.74.