Arnaldo Caprai is a renowned estate in the Montefalco region of Umbria in central Italy. Arnaldo Caprai bought the land in 1971, planting it with an initial 5.5ha of vines in 1973. Caprai’s success ‘spawned huge interest in Sagrantino and the Montefalco area,’ says Ian D’Agata (2015, p.425). In 1988 Arnaldo’s son Marcro Caprai took over the running of the estate, working with the University of Milan on improving both the winegrowing and winemaking of the main local grape, the Sagrantino. The main wines made here are Colli Martani DOC, Montefalco Rosso DOC, and Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG.

Owner: Marco Caprai.

Staff: Viticultural consultant: Leonardo Valenti of the University of Milan. | Consultant oenologist: Attilio Pagli.

Vineyard sites: Vines in Montefalco, Bevagna, and Gualdo Cattaneo.

Sparkling wines

Metodo Classico Spumante Brut: Traditional method. 50% each Pinot Nero and Chardonnay.

White wines

Umbria Bianco IGT, Cuvée Secrète: The blend depends on the vintage. | 2012 Debut.

Umbria Chardonnay IGT: 2015 Debut.

Umbria Grechetto IGT, Anima: 85% Grechetto, 15% Trebbiano Spoletino. | 2007 Debut.

Umbria Sauvignon Blanc IGT: 2016 Debut.

Colli Martani Bianco DOC Grechetto, Grecante: 1989 Debut. | 2018 Smooth, fluid, light white and yellow-green fruit (Montefalco, 18 Feb 2019).

Montefalco DOC Grechetto: 100% Grechetto (which one?). | 2016 Debut.

Red wines

Umbria Rosso IGT, Anima Umbra Rosso: 85% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo. | 2006 Debut.

Umbria Rosso IGT, Poggio Belvedere: 80% Sangiovese, 20% Bordeaux grapes.

Umbria Rosso IGT, Outsider: 50% Merlot, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. | 2000 Debut.

Umbria Pinot Nero, Nero Outsider: 100% Pinot noir. | 1998 Debut.

Montefalco Rosso DOC, Caprai: 70% Sangiovese, 15% each Merlot and Sagrantino.

Montefalco Rosso DOC: 1975 Debut. | 2012 Quite modernist, quite tannic, sticky berry fruit and oak (Collisioni, 16th July 2017). | 2017 12 months in used barrels. Nice sappy red fruit but still way too oaky for me (Montefalco 18 Feb 2019).

Montefalco Rosso DOC, Vigna Flaminia: 70% Sangiovese, 15% each Canaiolo and Sagrantino. | 2007 Debut.

Montefalco Rosso DOC Riserva: 70% Sangiovese, 15% each Merlot and Sagrantino. | 1993 Debut.

Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG, Collepiano: 1979 Debut. | 2010 New French oak aromas, smooth and slightly sour and dense (Collisioni, July 2017). | 2011 100% Sagrantino. 14.5%. 80,000 bottles. | 2015 22 months in French oak, 80% new. 60,000 bottles. Dense and oaky (Montefalco, 18 Feb 2019).

Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG, Spinning Beauty: Sagrantino Cobra clone (or clones?) grown in the Monte della Torre vineyard. 6,000-8,000 vines per hectare. Spurred cordon. | 2006 Debut vintage. 8 years in French oak.

Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG, Val di Maggio: 2012 Debut. 100% Sagrantino. 24m in French oak barrels.

Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG, Venticinque Anni: 1993 Debut. | 1998 Lots of new oak and a firm core of sweet and sour minty red cherry fruit, lots of acidity, and aggressive vanilla at the finish (12 Dec 2003, Burghley Road). 

Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG Passito: 100% Sagrantino. 15m in French oak. | 1975 Debut.

Contact

Arnaldo Caprai Società Agricola

Loc. Torre

I-06036 Montefalco (PG), Umbria, Italy

Tel+39 074 2378802 | Website: www.arnaldocaprai.it

Bibliography

Gilbert Winfield, 2011 Decanter Italy supplement, ‘Umbria awakes’, p74.

Ian D’Agata, Native wine grapes of Italy (University of California Press, 2014), p.425.