Arnaldo Caprai Sheets

T R A DI TION, I N N OVAT ION , T E RRITORY
T R A DI T ION
Commitment to the Montefalco region and the Sagrantino grape
inemaking has been an important tradition in
Montefalco since the Middle Ages. The first
mention of vineyards in this region dates back to 1088;
even before that, Pliny the Elder references the “Itriola”
grape, believed to be the local variety Sagrantino. At
Montefalco’s Church of St. Bartholomew, bas-reliefs
cover the outside walls with grapevines and clusters,
suggesting that Sagrantino wine was an integral part of
Mass. Even the name Sagrantino may derive from the
wine’s use in the sacraments during the Renaissance.
Montefalco’s storied history remained in relative obscurity until it was finally recognized with DOC status in the
early 1970s. In 1971, when vintner Arnaldo Caprai, our
founder, purchased the historic Val di Maggio estate,
fewer than five hectares were planted to
Sagrantino. Caprai and his son, Marco, dedicated themselves to researching Sagrantino and its clones. They
believed that this grape could give full expression to the
distinctive terroir of Montefalco. As a result of their
efforts, Sagrantino from Montefalco has experienced
precipitous success, bringing the town of Umbria to the
attention of the winemaking world and inspiring the
region’s elevation to DOCG status in 1992.
Although production of Sagrantino is still extremely
limited, the high quality of our Arnaldo~Caprai wines
has secured acclaim from critics and collectors all over
the world. Commitment to ongoing research and
experimentation has made Arnaldo~Caprai the acknowledged leader in the production of top quality Sagrantino
di Montefalco.
I N N OVAT ION
Research and experimentation in both the vineyards and the cellar
hen Arnaldo Caprai founded his winery, Sagrantino grew only in old, abandoned vineyards or on
small farms for family consumption. In 1994, Arnaldo’s
son Marco undertook a groundbreaking collaboration
with the University of Milan to recover Sagrantino and
increase the value of its genetic heritage. They established two experimental vineyards to collect data on
Sagrantino clones, develop a deeper understanding of
local soils and climate, and optimize traditional viticultural techniques. For more than 18 years, now, these
vineyards have provided valuable data on Sagrantino
and the distinctive Montefalco terroir.
At Arnaldo~Caprai Winery, we have also been
commited to implementing sustainable vineyard and
winemaking practices that will preserve Montefalco
for generations to come. Research has assessed the
effects of global warming on vineyards and helped us
determine the most effective ways to reduce carbon
emissions from all winemaking operations.
TERRI TORY
Preserving historic Montefalco
nnovation also means embracing the newest communication strategies, and our website encourages
communication among those who enjoy Arnaldo~
Caprai wines and want to understand the culture and
values these wines represent. Our wine club, winery
events—such as “Wine Day”— and a special wine sold
exclusively on the internet, “Nero Outsider,” all help us
build an online community.
he extraordinary terroir of Montefalco sets the
standard for wines of quality production. At
Arnaldo~Caprai Winery, we are dedicated to uncovering
Montefalco’s untapped potential and elevating its status
among the great wine regions of Italy.
In addition to protecting the heritage of Sagrantino in
Montefalco, we are committed to conserving natural
resources. We have been a leader in the organization of
Montefalco 2015: The New Green Revolution, a collaborative effort
among local wineries that addresses issues of sustainability
in the region. Montefalco 2015: The New Green Revolution
outlines practices that encourage community responsibility as well as environmental integrity. For example, for the
last decade, we have contributed proceeds from
Arnaldo~Caprai Winery events to local social and
environmental programs. In this way, we honor the part
the local community has played in our success and the
success of the entire region of Montefalco.