Umbria
Est. 1940 
8 wines 
Tastings
Booking required 
Wine area
Wine area
Denominations Produced
Wine areaDOC
Castello della Sala
Castello della Sala is the Antinori family's Umbrian estate, built around a 14th century fortress at Ficulle, in the province of Terni. Marquis Niccolo Antinori bought the castle in 1940. Vines cover about 320 football pitches of clay and limestone, at 220 to 470 metres. These slopes give the Cervaro, Muffato and Pinot Nero della Sala wines. The first Cervaro della Sala, made by Renzo Cotarella in 1985, gave the estate its name for serious whites. The wine shop by the medieval cellars takes tastings by appointment.
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Wines from Castello della Sala
About Castello della Sala
The estate sits in the Ficulle countryside of southern Umbria, about 18 kilometres from Orvieto. It lies halfway between the Paglia river and Monte Nibbio. The manor was built in 1350 by Angelo Monaldeschi della Vipera. His Orvieto family had arrived in Italy in the ninth century, with Charlemagne. For centuries the family fought dynastic feuds for control of Orvieto. The property later passed through several owners. In 1940 Marquis Niccolo Antinori bought it for his family.
The whole estate covers 600 hectares, about 840 football pitches. Vineyards make up 229 of them. The vines climb from 220 to 470 metres on clay and limestone soils rich in marine fossils. Temperatures swing sharply between day and night. Altitude, exposure and limestone all favour white grapes. Procanico and Grechetto grow beside Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Pinot Blanc, Viognier, Traminer and Riesling. Pinot Nero is the only red of note.
The estate's name for serious whites dates from the late 1970s. Renzo Cotarella joined in the summer of 1979, aged twenty-five. He trialled Chardonnay alongside Grechetto, looking for a white that could age. The 1985 vintage delivered the first Cervaro della Sala. It was one of the earliest Italian whites put through malolactic fermentation and barrique ageing. The name honours the Monaldeschi della Cervara branch of the family that once owned the castle.
The range now spans six wines, all under the Umbria IGT. Bramito della Sala is the entry-level Chardonnay, and Cervaro della Sala is the flagship white. Muffato della Sala is one of Italy's reference dessert wines, made from grapes touched by noble rot. Its blend is Sauvignon Blanc, Grechetto, Traminer, Semillon and Riesling. Picking runs from late October into November, as morning mists settle into the vineyards. San Giovanni della Sala leans on Trebbiano. Conte della Vipera is the estate Sauvignon Blanc. Pinot Nero della Sala has had its own bottling since the 1990 vintage.
The estate runs a wine shop next to the medieval cellars at Località Sala. Tastings and direct purchase are by appointment. Weekday hours are 9:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:00. Saturday hours are 10:00 to 13:00. Book by email at [email protected] or by telephone on +39 0763 86051.
Plate I · UMBRIA
Castello della Sala on the Umbria wine atlas
Winery
Castello della Sala
Ficulle
Denominations Produced
Wine areaDOC
Grapes Used
Visit & Experiences
Experiences at Castello della Sala
Nothing here can be booked online yet. The experiences below are documented by our editors. The estate's contact details are in Practical info.
Tasting
Wine Shop tasting at Castello della Sala
Tastings and direct bottle purchase at the estate wine shop next to the medieval cellars in Ficulle. By appointment only. Open Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:00, and Saturday from 10:00 to 13:00. Reservations by email at [email protected] or by telephone on +39 0763 86051.
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Plan your visit
Loc. Sala, 05016 Ficulle (TR), Italy
What Castello della Sala makes
Castello della Sala's current bottle selection is easiest to understand through Chardonnay and Grechetto.
Key grapes
Common questions
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The estate is at Loc. Sala, 05016 Ficulle, in the province of Terni in southern Umbria. It is about 18 kilometres from Orvieto. The land covers 600 hectares. Vineyards make up 229 of those. The vines sit between 220 and 470 metres on clay and limestone soils.
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