Tabarrini
BACKGROUND
Tabarrini is one of the best-known and most respected artisan wine producers in Montefalco with its vineyards and wine cellar located in and around Turrita. Giampaolo, who represents the fourth generation of the farmers of the Tabarrini family, is a passionate and eccentric winemaker and master and architect of this uncompromising and developing project. A great visionary who remains true to himself while striving for change, Giampaolo has, since taken over his parents’ farm in the late ‘90s, transformed it into the extraordinary success story it is today. The company that bears his name reflects his character, constantly moving in search of perfection and fresh challenges, with a dynamism that’s focused on the future but with the confidence of being founded on strong roots – on their own land, while upholding the Tabarrini family values passed through the generations, as well as the local traditions.
While Giampaolo Tabarrini is the dynamo of the cellar, nothing would be possible without his family and a team of close-knit collaborators. Federica, his partner in life and the business, is a key figure who successfully puts order and rationale into Giampaolo’s thoughts and ideas – of which there are many – helping to channel his energy. Their young son Filippo also demonstrates a growing interest during his visits to the cellar. His time will come… Alessandro Meniconi, resident winemaker, takes great care of every single detail of production, right from the bunch to the bottle. He tends the wines and shares them with the world when the time is right – all in partnership with oenologist Emiliano Falsini, friend of 20+ years and now almost a brother. In the cellar, Uncle Angelo uses his experience, skill and devotion in support of every operation. His wife Peppa often pops in ‘with breakfast’ – although we all think it’s more a ploy to watch over her husband! She often helps with bottling and any job where speed and craft are key.
Outside is Mattia, our young tractor driver, whose mission is to weave the rows with the vineyard a part of his DNA. Overseeing the secretarial and accounting side is Michela, Federica’s sister, who spends the days with her head in numbers and data. Last but not least, are Giampaolo’s parents, Franca and Nello, always on hand with their support and wisdom. All unite to make a loyal, passionate and happy team in constant search for the utmost quality. The contribution is universal – everyone has a hand and a say in everything – from early in the season in the vineyard to bottling to the presentation of Tabarrini’s latest wines…
The Terroir
The Montefalco landscape is extraordinarily beautiful – its hills dotted with vineyards, olive groves and ancient villages. Tabbarini is located in Turrita, a well-known village of the area. The vineyard comes first for the family. As a direct expression of the land, the climate and the toil of many hands, it’s instrumental to the making of their great wines. The Tabarrini family devotes the utmost energy, skill and knowledge to its vines with a focus on quality and sustainability. The various plots of land, spread throughout Montefalco, combine to create a mosaic of mixed tiles and a strong identity.
The vineyard comes first. As the foundation for making great wines, our vineyards are a direct expression of the land, the climate and our work. The Tabarrini family devotes the utmost energy, skill and knowledge to its vines with a focus on quality and sustainability. The various plots of land, spread throughout Montefalco, combine to create a mosaic of mixed tiles and a strong identity. Every Cru is worked in a different way defined by the characteristics of the terroir, but always with great care and attention. They treat every grape with respect and pride, starting with Sagrantino. The stalwart of history and territoriality, this native variety is without comparison, as is Trebbiano Spoletino for white wines. As a continuation of work started many years ago, cultivation of this variety was the result of a great deal of clonal selection, followed by the planting of new, proprietary vineyards in a pioneering way. To produce a wine that meets their exacting standards, Tabarrini matures the grapes gradually to harvest them later than average for the area. Fifteen of the estate’s twenty-two hectares are vineyards.
THE CELLAR
A magical place where the fruits of nature are transformed into wine by human skill and sensibility. To meet the company’s goals and needs, the cellar has been built, extended and transformed over time to become the exceptionally beautiful and functional space it is today. Split over different levels, it’s both practical and architectural – a fusion of ideas that find form in intuition and interaction. To fulfil its role as a place to create and preserve, its design is linear, spacious, ordered and functional. Individually designed and meticulously constructed, its features and details make it perfect. The philosophy on production is as simple as it is meticulous – to enhance the grapes the grapes with minimal intervention and no shortcuts. Fermentations are spontaneous, without using yeast and macerations quite lengthy, as per tradition. The wines are decanted by gravity alone and without pumps to avoid stressing the wine. Maturation takes place in large oak barrels with stops in the bottle completing the work.
THE WINE
Tabarrini is a master at producing artisanal wines of great quality and a unique style. Sagrantino is a stalwart of Montefalco’s identity, thanks to its method of production and separate vinifications of the area’s best vineyards to create Crus that illustrate the language of the area with distinctive accents.
il padrone delle vigne
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A tribute to past generations, capable of retaining the area’s beauty over time, its fruit and its values. A message that can be selected in this honest, authentic, and carefree wine for everyday drinking.
Production zone: Montefalco
Grape variety: 100% Trebbiano Tabarrini clonal selection
Exposure: East
Soil: Silty, clay
Vineyard: Planted in 2006, 350 m.a.s.l. 4,800 plants per hectare
Training: Guyot
Vinification: White wine vinification
Aging: .At least 6 months in steel, 3 months in bottle
Production: 3,000 bottles
Adarmando
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A dream of producing a traditional white wine of great charm and elegance on Montefalco’s hills comes true vy a process of rediscovery and development. Connecting the past with the present, this wine is named after the kind, generous and stubborn grandfather, Adarmando, a unique character is reminiscent in this wine.
Production zone: Montefalco
Grape variety: 100% Trebbiano Tabarrini clonal selection
Exposure: Southeast
Soil: Silty, clay
Vineyard: Planted in 2006, 350 m.a.s.l. 4,800 plants per hectare
Training: Guyot
Vinification: White wine vinification
Aging: .At least 12 months in steel, 6 months in bottle
Production: 10,000 bottles
il padrone delle vigne
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Dedicated to Giamaolo’s grandfather, Giovanni, in recognition of his indispensable advice and wealth of experience. A frank and honest wine that reminds us of him and his invaluable teachings.
Production zone: Montefalco
Grape variety: Sangiovese with a small quota of Sagrantino and Barbera
Exposure: Southeast
Soil: Silty, clay
Vineyard: Planted in 1996, 400 m.a.s.l. 4,500 plants per hectare
Training: Guyot
Vinification: Skin contact for over one month
Aging: .At least 12 months in French oak barrels, 3 months in bottle
Production: 6,000 bottles
boccatone
montefalco rosso doc
Not to be considered a younger brother of Sagrantino but rather another great Montefalco wine. This union of grape varieties gives rise to a blend that’s considered a classic red of the area.
Production zone: Montefalco
Grape variety: Sangiovese with a small quota of Sagrantino and Barbera
Exposure: Southeast
Soil: Silty, clay
Vineyard: Planted in 1992, 420 m.a.s.l. 4,500 plants per hectare
Training: Guyot
Vinification: Skin contact for over one month
Aging: .At least 24 months in French oak barrels, 12 months in bottle
Production: 23,000 bottles
colle grimaldesco
montefalco sagrantino docg
Tabarrini’s first Sagrantino, which immediately hit the headlines. The grapes come from silt-rich clay soil with excellent exposure to the SouthEast to guarantee perfectly mature grapes for a powerhouse of a wine but also balanced. It’s aged in large barrels and released a minimum of four years after harvest.
Production zone: Montefalco
Grape variety: 100% Sagrantino
Exposure: East, Southeast
Soil: Silty, clay loose
Vineyard: Planted in 1998, 390 m.a.s.l. 4,500 plants per hectare
Training: Guyot
Vinification: Skin contact for over one month
Aging: .At least 36 months in French oak barrels, 12 months in bottle
Production: 6,000 bottles
campo alla cerqua
montefalco sagrantino docg
The stony soil of the Cerqua vineyard is looser and lighter than that of Grimaldesco or Macchie and enjoys easterly exposure. Aging in large barrels makes this Sagrantino one of Tabarrini’s most elegant wines. It’s also a clean, relaxing wine that is rich in minerality with great aromatic complexity that succeeds in uniting the vineyard’s strong identity. Only a hectare of vines for fewer than 2,000 bottles per harvest.
Production zone: Montefalco
Grape variety: 100% Sagrantino
Exposure: Southeast
Soil: Silty, clay loose with a high number of river stones
Vineyard: Planted in 1997, 390 m.a.s.l. 4,000 plants per hectare
Training: Guyot
Vinification: Skin contact for over one month
Aging: .At least 36 months in French oak barrels, 12 months in bottle
Production: 2,000 bottles
campo alle macchie
montefalco sagrantino docg
If Tabarrini’s wines are considered extreme, this one goes beyond. A product of clay-rich soil and magnificent Southern exposure, this wine is made from grapes of exceptional maturity. Refined exclusively in large barrels and long months in bottles, the Colle Alle Macchie is a strong, powerful, and complex red of superb longevity that improves with age.
Production zone: Montefalco
Grape variety: 100% Sagrantino
Exposure: South
Soil: Clay
Vineyard: Planted in 1997, 420 m.a.s.l. 4,000 plants per hectare
Training: Guyot
Vinification: Skin contact for over one month
Aging: .At least 36 months in French oak barrels, 12 months in bottle
Production: 3,000 bottles