Sagrantino Wine Tasting at Scacciadiavoli Winery
Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG is one of Italy's most tannic, age-worthy red wines, grown on a tiny appellation of barely 700 hectares surrounding the town — and Scacciadiavoli, founded in 1884, is the oldest continuously operating winery on the appellation. Tasting here feels less like tourism and more like a private lesson in why this grape obsesses sommeliers worldwide.
The Wine & the Grape
Sagrantino's tannin levels are among the highest of any grape variety on earth, which means young vintages can be austere and demanding. The winery's guides are skilled at explaining how five years of ageing — two in large Slavonian oak casks, three in bottle — gradually tames that structure into something velvety and complex, with notes of blackberry, dried fig, chocolate and wild herbs. The estate also produces a Montefalco Rosso DOC (a softer Sangiovese-Sagrantino blend) that is an excellent, more affordable introduction.
The Passito di Sagrantino, a sweet raisin wine made from partially dried grapes, is the hidden gem of the tasting flight. Pair it with the local sheep's-milk cheese called Pecorino di Norcia and the combination is quietly revelatory.
Visiting the Estate
Scacciadiavoli sits on the SP444 road between Montefalco and Gualdo Cattaneo, about 3 km from the town walls — a pleasant drive through the vineyards. Tastings should be booked in advance by email or phone; they run roughly 75 minutes and include a walk through the 19th-century underground cellars, where the original terracotta fermentation vessels are still intact.
If you prefer to taste in town rather than drive, the Montefalco wine bars on Via Ringhiera Umbra and around Piazza del Comune stock the full appellation range. Enoteca L'Alchimista on Piazza del Comune is a reliable, friendly option with knowledgeable staff and a terrace.
More of Montefalco
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Montefalco →
