Antinori en Primeur Mixed Parcel of 18 bottles including x6 Cervaro della Sala 2022 and x12 Bramito della Sala 2023.
*Prices in bond*
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.
Bramìto is the estate’s 100% Chardonnay and its first vintage dates back to 1994. The grapes are from younger Chardonnay vines on the estate, sitting on soils rich in fossil deposits with veins of clay that give this wine minerality and elegance. The juice is only part barrel fermented, with malolactic fermentation lending a luscious creamy textureand flavour to the wine.
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.
The Antinori family has been producing wine in Tuscany for six centuries and exporting it for four – that’s 26 generations of uninterrupted family ownership, making them the 10th oldest company in
the world still in the hands of the same family. They moved to Florence in the early 13th century, and remain central figures in the fabric of the city. Piazza Antinori is the square in the historic centre where Marchese Piero Antinori still lives. The purchase of the Tignanello estate in 1850 marked the beginning of a remarkable period of expansion, which shows no signs of abating. Through judicious acquisition of vineyards, and an uncanny knack for developing iconic wines, Antinori has become Tuscany’s – arguably Italy’s – preeminent wine producer, establishing an important presence in Piedmont, Umbria, Puglia and Lombardy. Marchese Piero Antinori sums up the company’s outlook thus: “Ancient roots play an important role in our philosophy, but they have never held back our spirit of innovation.” Today the president of the company is Albiera Antinori (Piero’s eldest daughter), while the Marchese retains the title of honorary president. Renzo Cotarella, creator of Cervaro della Sala, is the CEO and chief winemaker.
