Moretti Omero Cantina e Frantoio is an organic estate winery in Giano dell’Umbria, the highest commune inthe Montefalco region of Umbria, central Italy. Red wines are made under the Montefalco Rosso DOC, and the Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG.

Omero Moretti’s daughter Giusy (who is also a qualified architect) is now running the estate. (Omero was also the name of a Greek poet). Her grandfather was called Giuseppe. Giusy’s grandmother was called Quinta (the ‘fifth’ daughter of seven children in total). Sagrantino was grown by Giusy’s grandmother’s side of the family, but they sold their grapes to the Scacciadiavoli winery when this was the largest winery in the area. Her grandfather’s side of the family did not specialise in wine-growing.

Background: The estate was founded after the Second World War when Omero Moretti’s grandfather bought an olive grove, having returned to Italy from Switzerland, to where he had emigrated. His son (Omero’s father) continued to plant olives, and also vines.

Vineyards: Estate vineyards lie at an average altitude of 400 metres, with the highest vines at upto 540 metres. The estate consists of 35ha of land in total across various landholdings acquired at varying times and in different places. | 2015 13ha. Sagrantino, Merlot, Grechetto, Sangiovese.

Viticulture: 4,500 vines/ha.

Organics: Giusy told me in 2018 that having two very late-ripening grape varieties in Trebbiano Spoletino and Sagrantino whilst being organic was stressful. Keeping the leaf canopy under control via leaf plucking to allow sunlight in and constant air movement was important, she said.

Organic certification: 1995 First vintage with full organic certification. | 2020 Still certified organic.

Sparkling wines

Metodo classico: Classic method sparkling wine made from Trebbiano Spoletino.

White wines

Umbria Bianco IGT, Grechetto: 2012 Grapes picked slightly shrivelled. Fermented in stainless steel. No MLF. Rich and buttery, chalky acid (Millésime Bio 2015).

Bianco della Umbria, Nessuno: Grechetto and Malvasia Aromatica.

Red wines

Umbria Rosso IGT, Terre di Giano: 2006 Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo  and Merlot.

Montefalco Rosso DOC:

Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG: 2002 14.5%. | 2009 15%. | 2010 Aged in 500-litre tonneaux. Well made, ripe fruit and tannin (Millésime Bio 2015).

Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG, Vignalunga:

Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG Passito, Vignalunga:

Other activities: 4,500 olive trees (17 hectares). Cooking school run by Giusy and her grandmother.

Contact

Az. Ag. Moretti Omero

Località San Sabino, 19/20

06030 Giano dell’Umbria (PG), Italy

Tel+39 0742.90433 | www.morettiomero.it

Directions | From the E45: Orte-Cesena. Uscita Ripa Bianca (da Cesena) Uscita Massa Martana (da Orte). 2.5km from the Strada Statale 316 Foligno-Todi.