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This week we are honored to have as our guest Jacopo Cossater, wine writer for the biggest wine blog in Italy, Intravino, on the show to discuss the Italian wine region he calls home: Umbria.  Umbria is the 4th smallest wine producing region of Italy, but its wines are exquisite and unlike anything else you'll ever have. Here are the show notes: 1. First we discuss where Umbria is and what it is: Only Italian region without coastline nor international border –  Lush, rolling hills, hilltop villages Between Tuscany, Marche, and Lazio Whites and reds are important here and quality on the rise  2. We talk about the wines:    Orvieto  In southern Umbria, 80 miles north of Rome Volcanic and tufa soils Common Grapes: Trebbiano Tocscano (Ugni Blanc) Grechetto: Finer wine, good for structure Malvasia: Floral, effusive aromatics Orvieto DOC: Can be lesser quality, better to seek out Orvieto Classico DOC Lago di Corbara DOC   Torgiano Located south of Perugia Common Grapes: Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Ciliegiolo (sometimes bottled as a varietal here) Rosso di Torgiano DOC: Sangiovese, Canaiolo Torgiano Rosso Riserva DOCG: The first wine to gain DOC (and later DOCG) status in Umbria: 50–70% Sangiovese, 15–30% Canaiolo, up to 15% other grapes like Ciliegiolo or Montepulciano. Recommended Producers: Cantine Lungarotti.  Torgiano is home to Italy’s most important wine museum, Museo del Vino   Montefalco (Sagrantino and Rosso di Montefalco) 30 miles southeast of Perugia. Set up well for tourism and visiting Sagrantino Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG:  ageworthy red wines Required to be at least 95% Sagrantino, the wines must be aged for 30 months; at least 12 of those months in oak barrels Tannic, big wine. Used to be used for sacramental purposes Responsible for the revolution in Umbrian reds Pricey, but one worth holding Rosso di Montefalco: Sangiovese based red with a touch of Sagrantino 60–70% Sangiovese, 10–15% Sagrantino and 15–30% other grapes, often Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon. Structure, fullness in wine, with lots of flavor Jacopo's Producer Hit List: Montefalco Sagrantino (wine): Adanti, Arnaldo Caprai, Antonelli, Paolo Bea, Tabarrini, Fattoria Colleallodole, Scacciadiavoli, Di Filippo, Fratelli Pardi, Romanelli, Tenuta Bellafonte, Raína   Orvieto Classico (wine): Palazzone, Barberani, Decugnano dei Barbi, Castello di Corbara   Orvieto (area): Castello della Sala (Antinori), Falesco   Torgiano Rosso Riserva (wine): Lungarotti, Terre Margaritelli   Perugia (area): Conestabile della Staffa, Marco Merli, La Spina, Cantina Margò, Castello Monte Vibiano Vecchio, Cantina Cenci   Ciliegiolo di Narni (wine): Leonardo Bussoletti   Trebbiano Spoletino (wine): Collecapretta   Grechetto di Todi (wine): Peppucci, Roccafiore   Terni (area): La Palazzola   And thanks to our sponsors who make the podcast possible: The Great Courses Plus:  This week watch "Brain Myths Exploded: Lessons from Neuroscience", specifically the lecture "Can Certain Foods Make You Smarter" to learn about the effects of red wineon the brain! For a free month of unlimited Great Courses Plus lectures go to: www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/wine   HelloFresh: A meal kit delivery service that shops, plans and delivers your favorite step-by-step recipes and pre-measured ingredients so you can just cook, eat and enjoy! Delivered right to your door, with a variety of chef-curated recipes that change weekly, this is a new way to eat and cook! We love it!  For $30 off your first week of HelloFresh, visit www.hellofresh.com and enter WINE30. You won't regret it!