DOC area for white wine on the border between the two Italian regions of Umbria and Lazio. The zone comprises around 2.500 hectares of vineyards in the municipalities of Allerona, Alviano, Baschi, Castel Giorgio, Castel Viscardo, Fabro, Ficulle, Guardea, Montecchio, Montegabbione, Monteleone d'Orvieto, Orvieto and Porano in the province of Terni (Umbria), as well as Bagnoregio, Castiglione in Teverina, Civitella d'Agliano, Graffignano and Lubriano in the province of Viterbo (Lazio). Frequent moisture in autumn causes fog and thus noble rot on the grapes.
Viticulture was already practised here by the Etruscans and Orvieto wines had a legendary reputation in the Middle Ages. The painters Pinturicchio (1454-1513) and Luca Signorelli (1441-1523) demanded rations of wine as part of their fee for their works in the Sistine Chapel and Orvieto Cathedral. Pope Gregory XIV (1535-1591) also greatly honoured him and stipulated in his will that his body should be washed with it before burial.
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Egon Mark
Diplom-Sommelier, Weinakademiker und Weinberater, Volders (Österreich)