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Sagrantino reD wine variety

Sagrantino is one of the most interesting Italian red wine varieties used in Australia. A growing number of Australian winemakers are using this variety to make delicious wines with fruity, spicy flavours and fine structure.

Sagrantino fermenting at Aphelion in McLaren Vale

Sagrantino in Italy

Although there are legends of a Greek or Byzantine origin it is most likely that the variety originated in Central Italy.

If you are unfamiliar with Italian Wine Regions (and there are 360+ of them) you might enjoy this Wine Map of Italy

The most famous expression of this red grape in Italy is  Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG, named after the town of Montefalco in Central Umbria.  Small amounts are grown in other Italian regions of Central and Southern Italy.

These wines are big full bodied reds with abundant tannins showing fruity, spicy aromatics and flavour.

Sagrantino most often made as a varietal wine but it  is sometimes blended with Sangiovese. 

A sweet version of Sagrantino di Montefalco is made using the passito method where the grapes are dried to some extent before the wine is made. This process makes the grape sugars, and flavours, more concentrated resulting in a higher potential alcohol. 

SAgrantino in Australia

Starting in the 1990s the passion for Italian wines, first by grape growers and winemakers and finally consumers was mainly about Sangiovese.  Now Australians are busy trying the myriad of other Italian varieties, both as imported wines and as locally produced wines.

Sagrantino has been a little slower to catch on than some other Italian reds. It is probably best suited to mild to cooler regions.

For those who are wordsmiths as well as winelovers d'Arenberg's Cenosilicaphobic cat is worth seeking out...it's a mainly Sagrantino, with a touch of Cinsaut

Australian Producers of Sagrantino

• Amadio Adelaide Hills
• Andrew Peace Wines Swan Hill
• Angullong Wines Orange
• Aphelion McLaren Vale
• Balancing Rock Wines Granite Belt
• Chalmers Heathcote
• Chrismont King Valley
• Coriole McLaren Vale
• D'Arenberg McLaren Vale
• Domain Day Barossa Valley
• Five o’Clock Project McLaren Vale
• Golden Ball Beechworth
• Gracebrook Vineyards King Valley
• Heathvale Eden Valley
• King River Estate King Valley
• Koltz McLaren Vale
• Lethbridge Wines Geelong
• Mada Wines Canberra
• Mitolo McLaren Vale
• Montevecchio Heathcote
• Olivers Taranga McLaren Vale
• Pizzini Wines King Valley
• Preston Peak Granite Belt
• Quarry Hill Wines Canberra
• Sassafras Canberra
• Savaterre Beechworth
• Sons of Eden Barossa Valley
• Susuro Adelaide Hills
• Tallavera Grove Winery Hunter Valley
• Terra Felix Upper Goulburn
• View Road Wines Adelaide Hills

Sacred Sagrantino

Why Aphelion in the McLaren Vale Region is making Sagrantino

The name Sagrantino is believed to be derived from the Italian word sacra, meaning sacred.  This inspired Rod Mack and Louise Rhodes Mack to visit Umbria and learn about this wonderful variety.

You can read about the full story in this article All About Sagrantino

Sagrantino and Food

Sagrantino wines, like other Italian reds, can be little too acid and tannic for some Australian palates, especially if they are not accompanied by food.

A clue as how best to appreciate these wines is to look to Sagrantino's home base in Umbria.

One food specialty of the region is Norcineria - hams, cured and smoked meats and sausages made from pork and wild boar (cinghiale). These are produced in the town of Norcia, famous for its pork butchers and delicatessens.

Darby in Norica, Umbria, Italy, shopping for some charcuterie items to accompany Sagrantino wine

As well as a meaty antipasto, Sagrantino is ideal as an accompaniment to pasta with a meat based ragu, or perhaps a sharp cheese.

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This dozen contains 2 bottles from each of six different producers in several regions. It gives you a good overview of the styles of Australian Tempranillo.

Details here

More Italian red wine varieties used in Australia