Antinori. Castello della Sala 'Cervaro della Sala'

Cervaro della Sala was one of the first Italian white wines to have malolactic fermentation and ageing taking place in barriques. The name Cervaro comes from the noble family who owned Castello della Sala during the 14th century: the Monaldeschi della Cervara. A blend of Chardonnay grapes and a small quantity of Grechetto make a wine that can age over time and represents the elegance and complexity of this unique estate. The first vintage of Cervaro was 1985.

Castello della Sala, considered one of the most extraordinary examples of medieval architecture in Italy, is located in Umbria, a short distance from the Tuscan border - about 11 miles from the historic city of Orvieto. The estate’s 170 hectares (420 acres) are planted with traditional varieties such as Procanico and Grechetto, but also with Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Sèmillon, Pinot Bianco, Viognier, and a small percentage of Traminer and Riesling.

The estate started producing innovative wines from non-traditional grape varieties (Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc) back in the 1980s’, under the direction of Marchese Piero Antinori, son of Niccolò, and Renzo Cotarella, Castello della Sala’s enologist at that time. The Umbrian estate has always posed – and still continues to pose to date – a continuous challenge for Marchesi Antinori who has dedicated years of research and experimentation in viticulture and oenology to maximize the potential of indigenous varieties and also to determine how the area’s microclimates contribute to the production of contemporary wines.