Taste Travellers
Travelling along the “Etruscan Wine Route” and cutting through the Province of Terni into the Land of the Etruscans and Romans along the course of the Tiber, is a recommended experience for all those who love travelling beyond the obvious, searching for and savouring the pleasures of life. Between one city of art and another, localities rich in monuments, artistic representations of every kind and vestiges of the past (from the celebrated Cathedral of Orvieto, to Parrano Castle, from the Cyclopic walls of Amelia, to the Castle of Mercenary Leaders in Alviano, from villa Cahen in Allerona to the Fortress in Narni, from the churches and medieval palaces of Stroncone to the entire historical centre of Terni, provincial capital) cellars, shops and workshops can be found which form the backbone of the Wine Route. Around them a network of hospitality in the countryside of Umbria purpose-made for the real “taste travellers”, as slow as necessary, aware, informed, eager to savour and learn through their own senses. Cheers!


The Gateway
Apart from the network of territorial Tourist Information Offices (IAT), there are two “gateways” to learn about the services and products along the Route. The “Palazzo del Gusto” (Tasting Palace) in Orvieto, next to the regional wine-cellars, where a complete exhibition of the Provincial and Umbrian wine trade reality can be seen and savoured. Also Palazzo Petrignani in Amelia, situated in the historical heart of the city, which hosts “l’Accademia dell’Alimentazione” – The Academy of food and drink.

Wines
The wine route snakes through the hills, through the mountains and into the valleys where the best Orvieto and Amerino D.O.C. wines are produced, touching the ancient traditional wine-producing centres of Orvieto, Amelia, Allerona, Alviano, Castel Viscardo, Ficulle, Lugnano in Teverina and San Venanzo. The Route, with its variants, crosses the production zones of wines of “Controlled Origin Denomination” (D.O.C. “Orvieto”, “Orvietano Red”, “Lake of Corbara” and “Amerini Hills”) or of “Typical Geographic Origin” of known or less well-known names, white and red, which enhance some vines or grape blends of the Province of Terni (IGT “Umbria”, “Allerona”, “Narni”).

D.O.C. Colli Amerini (Amerini Hills)
The D.O.C. production zone includes the hillside territory of Amelia, Narni, Calvi, Otricoli, Alviano, Lugnano and Penna in Teverina, Giove and part of the Terni district.

Varieties:
“Red” (the Rosso Superiore – 12° - 3 years ageing) and “Rosato” (the base comes from Sangiovese grapes 65-80%) blended with Merlot, Montepulciano, Cannaiolo, Ciliegiolo and Barbera;
“White” (with a Trebbiano Toscano base -70-85%) blended with Grechetto, Verdello, Garganega and Malvasia Toscana;
“Malvasia” (with a Malvasia Toscana base – 85-100%), Trebbiano Toscano and others.


D.O.C. Orvieto
The production area of Orvieto D.O.C. includes the mostly hillside territories of Orvieto, Allerona, Alviano, Baschi, Castel Giorgio, Castel Viscardo, Fabro, Ficulle, Guardea, Montecchio, Montegabbione, Monteleone d’Orvieto, Porano and a part of Viterbo territory in Lazio. It is among the more representative Umbrian wines, known since ancient times, and covers about 70% of the D.O.C. production of the Province of Terni. It is produced with the labels “Orvieto”, “Orvieto Classico” with grapes from the specific area of the Paglia Valley, “Orvieto Superiore” and “Orvieto Classico Superiore” with 12° and 3 months refinement. Regulations provide for grapes as follows: Tuscan Trebbiano (Procanico, 20-40%), Grechetto (min. 40%), Cannaiolo Bianco (Drupeggio), Malvasia Toscana (max. 40%). A further distinction regards the dry, semi-sweet and sweet varieties, among which the important “late-harvest” and “mouldered” productions.

D.O.C. Orvietano Red
It is produced in the area coincident to the White Orvieto, in the San Venanzo territory towards the Tiber Valley, and in some limited areas of the Amerino and Viterbo districts.

The varieties:
“Red” (from Pinot nero, Aleatico, French Cabernet, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cannaiolo Rosso, Ciliegiolo, Merlot, Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Barbera, Common Cesanese , Colorino and Dolcetto grapes) ageing up to 2 or 3 years;
“Aleatico” (from Aleatic grapes 85-100%), aromatic wine;
“Cabernet” (or “French Cabernet” or “Cabernet Sauvignon”) (from French cabernet or Cabernet Sauvignon grapes 85-100%);
“Cannaiolo” (from Cannaiolo Grapes 85-100%);
“Ciliegiolo” (from Ciliegiolo grapes 85-100%);
“Merlot” (from Merlot grapes 85-100%);
“Pinot Nero” (from Pinot Nero grapes 85-100%);
“Sangiovese” (from Sangiovese grapes 85-100%).


D.O.C. Lake of Corbara
It is a specific denomination for the particular characteristics of the localities that overlook the artificial basin of the same name around the course of the Tiber river between Todi, Orvieto, Baschi and Montecchio.

The varieties:
“Red” (from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Nero, Sangiovese grapes min. 70%); the remaining 30% is a blend of Aleatico, Barbera, French Cabernet, Cannaiolo, Cesanese, Ciliegiolo, Colorino and Montepulciano grapes; 12.5°, ageing minimum 9 months up to 8-9 years;
“Cabernet Sauvignon” (from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes 85-100%);
“Merlot” (from Merlot grapes 85-100%);
“Pinot nero” (from Pinot Nero grapes 85-100%).