Cervaro della Sala, Umbria

Cervaro della Sala, Umbria: Located near the Tuscan border, 12 miles from Orvieto, is a 14th-century manor after which this estate is named. While several white varieties are grown here, the focus is on Chardonnay grown on clay and calcareous-based soils rich in fossil shells. This, supplemented by the temperature contrast between day and night, gives rich Chardonnay with excellent freshness. Their flagship is often referred to as ‘The Montrachet of Italy’. I’m less keen on such hyperbole, but in truth, I’ve not come across a better Chardonnay from the country, so it's perhaps not without merit. Bramito della Sala is the younger brother of Cervaro, a super buy and one that’s often found in my ‘cellar’.