Cervaro della Sala has intense aromas of crushed lime and lemon, minerals and flint that carry through to a medium body, an ultra-precise balance of acidity and fruit; the finish is long and linear. That is how Jancis Robison, the world-renowned wine expert, describes it. And, like her, many other celebrated palates praise the qualities of this white bearing the Antinori signature.
Cervaro della Sala was among the first Italian white wines to undergo malolactic fermentation and substantial ageing in barrique. Against the conventions of the time, this wine was conceived to express an elegance and a style that establish themselves and improve with time: for Cervaro della Sala, ageing is a must if it is to express itself fully. A lofty idea back in the 1980s. That is when this label was born, from the idea of producing a surprising wine, true to its territory and its brand, able to prove its qualities after ageing.
Castello della Sala
This enchanting medieval fortress lends Cervaro della Sala an aura of prestige.
Castello della Sala and its lands bring splendour to this corner of Umbria, a few kilometres from Orvieto and on the border with Tuscany. Here we find an environment and a territory well suited to producing great white wines: clay soil, a microclimate with cold but not harsh winters, hot summers and morning mist.
Among the hills surrounding the castle, Antinori embarked on a winemaking journey of experimentation and innovation whose results can be savoured today in labels such as Cervaro della Sala. With the help of agronomist Renzo Cotarella, a small amount of Grechetto, the typical grape variety of the area, was paired with Chardonnay to create surprising wines in these lands in the footsteps of the great Burgundies – wines that, however, have nothing to envy them.
Charm and innovation also come together in the ageing. The modern winemaking cellar, designed to bring out the freshness and aromas of the grapes, stands alongside the historic ageing cellar beneath the stronghold of Castello della Sala, dating back to the 16th century. Here, in French oak casks, Cervaro della Sala rests, protected by thick walls.
Try Cervaro della Sala
It is different from a Burgundy Chardonnay: Cervaro della Sala has a typically Mediterranean character, with an intense scent and a balanced taste.
Everything is meticulously refined. Faint greenish reflections run through its pale straw yellow; citrus, pears, acacia flowers, hints of vanilla and sweet notes of butter and hazelnut combine in a heady nose; savouriness and great finesse round off the flavourful sip in the mouth.
You can pair Cervaro della Sala with a delicate fish-based meal, to enrich an important convivial occasion marked by elegance.
