The Wine

The name Cervaro comes from the noble family that owned Castello della Sala during the 14th century, Monaldeschi della Cervara. Cervaro is a blend of Chardonnay grapes and Grechetto and is one of the first Italian white wines to have malolactic fermentation and aging take place in barriques.

Climate

Mild winter weather and normal levels of precipitation marked the beginning of the 2024 growing season. Spring was moderately rainy that guaranteed good groundwater reservoirs in vineyard soils. Spring temperatures, slightly lower than average, prompted normal budbreak and even vine growth. Flowering and fruit set of Chardonnay vines took place at the end of May while for Grechetto, these phases occurred one week later, 7 days later than seasonal averages. July and August saw hot stable weather that was accompanied by significant temperature swings between day and night, ensuring a gradual and ideal ripening phase. The grape harvest began with Chardonnay at the end of August and was completed with Grechetto 3 weeks later towards mid-September. At harvest time, the grapes were perfectly healthy, at peak maturity with a good balance between acidity and sugar levels and a particularly generous and complex aromatic profile.

Vineyards

The name Cervaro comes from the noble family that owned Castello della Sala during the 14th century, Monaldeschi della Cervara.
The estate’s 229 hectares (566 acres) of vineyards are located at an altitude of 220 – 470 meters above sea level (722-1542 feet). The vines grow in clay and calcareous based soils, rich in fossil shells, and they are well exposed to the rising of the sun with an excellent difference of temperature between day and night.

Winemaking

A blend of Chardonnay grapes and a small quantity of Grechetto make a wine that can age over time and represent the elegance and complexity of this unique estate. Cervaro della Sala is one of the first Italian white wines to have malolactic fermentation and aging take place in barriques. In 1985, Renzo Cotarella, who was chief enologist at Castello della Sala at that time, made the first vintage of Cervaro della Sala.

The vinification cellar was designed to take full advantage of gravity flow; a concept that allows us to handle the harvested berries and fermentation processes as gently as possible without the use of mechanical pumps. The grapes are harvested in the early morning hours to preserve the purity of the fruit and protect it from elevated daytime temperatures. The must, which has undergone maceration on the skins, is transferred by gravity flow into tanks for decantation and clarification, then transferred into barriques where alcoholic fermentation takes place followed by partial malolactic fermentation. The Chardonnay is transferred back into stainless steel vats and blended with Grechetto, which was fermented separately and did not age in oak. Afterwards, Cervaro della Sala aged in the bottle for several months in Castello della Sala’s historic cellars before release.

History

Castello della Sala was built in 1350 by Angelo Monaldeschi della Vipera whose family arrived in Italy in the IX century following Charlemagne’s troops. The 1300’s marked the beginning of a long series of conflicts between family members in order to gain control over Orvieto. In 1437 Gentile, grandson of Angelo dei Monaldeschi della Vipera, gained control of the city and reigned as dictator for over a decade. Following Gentile’s death in 1466, a peaceful period started at the castle, culminating with the reconciliatory marriage of Gentile’s son, Pietro Antonio della Vipera, and his cousin Giovanna Monaldeschi della Cervara. In 1940 Marchese Niccolò Antinori, Piero’s father, bought the estate fully aware of the fact that the area held great potential for producing fine white wines. After years of neglect, Castello della Sala moves towards a period of rebirth.

Tasting Notes

Cervaro della Sala 2024 is clear straw yellow in color with light green hues. The nose opens with citrusy notes of pink grapefruits accompanied by floral hints of elderflowers and chamomile, followed by delicate aromas of vanilla, pastry cream and a hint of flint, a distinctive characteristic of Chardonnay grown in vineyards on the Castello della Sala estate. The palate is taut, elegant with notes of toasted almonds, white pepper and ginger. The savory texture is well-balanced by exceptional freshness. This vintage boasts an authentic flavor profile that unites energy and finesse, once again reaffirming Cervaro della Sala’s excellent aging potential in the years to come.