Antinori - Castello della Sala : San Giovanni della Sala 2024

Characteristics and tasting tips for the San Giovanni della Sala 2024 from Antinori - Castello della Sala

Tasting

Color
The color is a bright straw yellow, refined by delicate greenish highlights.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet reveals an elegant palette of white flowers, accompanied by notes of white peach. Citrus nuances complete the ensemble with hints of lime and yellow grapefruit.

Palate
On the palate, the wine offers a generous texture and a harmoniously balanced structure. The finish is characterized by a lively acidity with lemony notes, ensuring a beautiful overall harmony.

A white wine from Umbria combining freshness and structure

The estate

Acquired by the Antinori family in 1940, Castello della Sala is one of the house's emblematic Umbrian estates. The estate covers around 200 hectares, including almost 170 hectares of vineyards in Umbria, near Orvieto. It stands out for its exceptional terroir, consisting of clay and limestone soils rich in marine fossils, located at an altitude of 300 to 400 meters. Under the influence of oenologist Renzo Cotarella from the late 1970s, the estate has left its mark on Italian viticulture, particularly with the creation of Cervaro della Sala in the 1980s.

The vineyard

This San Giovanni della Sala comes from the vineyards surrounding the medieval castle of Castello della Sala, located in the Orvieto Classico area. This Umbrian terroir benefits from a moderate altitude, where clay and limestone soils enriched with marine fossils give the wines their distinctive mineral character. The estate's first vintage of Orvieto Classico San Giovanni della Sala dates back to 1990.

The vintage

The winter of 2024 was mild with average rainfall, allowing for a good replenishment of groundwater reserves without excess. Spring, slightly cooler than average, benefited from well-distributed rainfall, favoring normal budburst. Rainfall in May and June supported vegetative growth and prevented any water stress. The flowering of Grechetto, Viognier, Pinot Bianco, and Procanico took place in the first half of June with uniform fruit set. From mid-July to August, warm and sunny conditions, accompanied by significant temperature variations, ensured progressive and optimal ripening, developing complex aromas and a balance between sugar and acidity. The harvest stretched from the end of August for Grechetto, Viognier, and Pinot Bianco, which revealed remarkable aromatic freshness, to mid-September for Procanico, with healthy and perfectly balanced grapes.

Winemaking and aging

Each grape variety making up the San Giovanni della Sala 2024 is vinified separately. A portion of the must undergoes cold maceration on the skins for about six hours at 10°C and is then blended with the gently pressed portion. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks at 16°C. This Italian wine then rests on its lees for several months until the final blending and bottling, to strengthen structure, elegance, and mineral character.

Grape varieties

Grechetto, Procanico, Pinot Bianco and Viognier make up this blend, which combines indigenous and international grape varieties.