Cantina Dionigi is an estate in Bevagna in the Montefalco region in Perugia province in Umbria. Gabriele Dionigi founded the company in 1896. White wines are made under the Colli Martani DOC, and the Spoleto Trebbiano Spoletino DOC. Red wines are made under the Montefalco Rosso DOC, the Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG, and the Montefalco Sagrantino Passito DOCG.
Owner: Now 4th generation. Roberto Dionigi and his wife Carolina. He studied oenology in Perugia but not for long as although his dad and grandad made wine it was not his initial passion.
Sparkling wines
Trial: 80 bottles. Soft fizz, slightly angular. Very salty. (Visit 2020).
White wines
Grechetto, Umbria IGT: 100% Grechetto. Bevagna. 260m. North-facing. 5,500 vines per ha. Guyot. 8 tonnes per ha.
Colli Martani DOC Grechetto, Vigna del Brillo: 100% Grechetto. Bevagna. 260m. North-facing. 5,500 vines/ha. Guyot. Lower yields compared to the white above (6 tonnes per ha).
Spoleto Trebbiano Spoletino IGT Gaucho: 2018 100% Trebbiano Spoletino. 13.5%. No skin contact. Oily spicey, little bit of herb, laurel, and a touch of honey and salt (visit, 2020). | 2019 40hl.
Colli Martani DOC Grechetto, Colle Sorragani: 100% Grechetto. 6m in oak tonneaux. | 2017 15.5% alc. Calcareous clay. Aged 6m in oak. Amber colour. Oily texture, new oak and moist tangerine orange skins lightly dried and seasoned with fine sea salt (2020, visit).
Montefalco Grechetto DOC: 2018 24 hours on skins. Stainless steel. 15% alc. Salty, bright yellow fruit, savoury, clear (visit, 2020).
Septum: A white wine dedicated to Sesto Dionigi, the 3rd generation of his family. Made from Moscato Bianco. Guyot. 5,500 vines per ha. No oak. | 2018 14.5% alc. 3,000 bottles. Very salty, soft salty lemons, very savoury, clear, moreish (visit, 2020).
Pink wines
Rosagra’ (sic): Sagrantino. Imagine this is a bled rosé, possibly from machine picked grapes. Said to show notes of dog rose (‘rosa canina’).
Red wines
Rosso della Pia, Umbria IGT: Sangiovese, Merlot, Sagrantino. South-facing vines on limstone, clay. Unoaked.
Gabrino, Umbria Merlot: Gabrino was the nick-name of the company founder. 100% Merlot. Clay soils. Deleafed. Aged in oak for 24m. | 2016 100% Merlot. 4,000 bottles. 24m in 25hl botti. A little dry and balsamic (Bit of brett maybe… (2020, visit).
Montefalco Rosso DOC, Dionigi: 2016 70% Sangiovese 15% Sagrantino, 15% Merlot. 12m in barrels. 15% alc. Punchy and crisp (2020, visit).
Montefalco Rosso DOC, Riserva: 2014 Sagrantino, Merlot, Sangiovese. 15.5% alc. 12m in barrel, 12m in botti grande. A little uneven, not yet knit, spicy balsamic tones (2020, visit).
Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG: Sagrantino. South-south east facing. | 2008 16.5%. Bit funky (2020, visit). | 2010 17% alc. Again some funk alongside balsamic macchia notes (2020, visit). (‘Did it rain at harvest? ‘someone I was tasting with asked me). | 201216.5% alc. Bit bretty, some aggressive notes here, and herbal, balsamic notes (2020, visit). | 2017 picked early Sept, whereas harvest from early Oct onwards is normal.
Passito wines
Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG Passito
Grechetto dell’Umbria IGT, Passito, Passo Greco: Grechetto (G5 Grechetto di Todi). Air dried for 3 months on ‘camorganne’ racks. Sweetness: 35 babbo. | 2011 15% alc. Half bottle. Funky nose. Nice palate, savoury-sweet, vibrant and refreshing. Not the most complex but very likeable and reviving (2020, visit).
Merlot, Umbria IGT, Civico 92: Merlot. The grapes are allowed to shrivel and concentrate. Unoaked.
Moscato dell’Umbria IGT Passito, Scialo: Moscato Bianco. Picked late August. Bunches are dried indoors for two months. Pressed, fermented and bottled to leave a very sweet wine.
Contact
Cantina Dionigi
Via Madonna della Pia, 44
I-06031 Bevagna (PG), Italy
Tel+39 0742 360 395
Bibliography
Visit to the winery 23 Feb 2020.