Climate
The 2022 growing season in Orvieto began with warmer temperatures and dry conditions during both winter and spring. The month of June saw no precipitation and registered several heat spikes. Despite these climatic conditions, the vines did not suffer drought stress due to existing pedoclimatic conditions in Castello della Sala’s vineyards. Rain showers at the beginning of August brought good balance back to both the vines and the fruit allowing the grapes to reach peak ripeness. Layers of morning fog set into the vineyards during the months of October and November and the berries were gradually covered with “noble rot” that concentrated sugar levels and enhanced the grapes’ aromatic complexity. The grape harvest began at the end of October with Traminer, continued with Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon and was completed at the end of November with Grechetto.
Vinification
Grapes were harvested from Castello della Sala’s vineyards, located at an altitude between 200 and 450 meters above sea level (656 and 1476 feet), in clay-based soils rich in marine fossils. All grapes were hand harvested in progressive stages, returning repeatedly to the vineyards to pick the fruit at just the right time. Once the grapes were brought to the cellar, grape clusters were further selected for quality on sorting tables. Grape clusters with their stems were gently crushed then pressed. The must underwent fermentation for 18 days at a temperature of approximately 17 °C (63 °F). The wine, still sweet at this stage, was transferred into 228-liter oak where it aged for several months, then continued to age in stainless steel tanks.
Historical Data
Muffato della Sala is produced with grapes with “noble rot”, harvested in late October and early November to allow the morning mists to develop of Botrytis Cinerea, or noble rot on the grape berries. This type of mould concentrates the water of the crop, its sugars, and its aromas, endowing the Muffato della Sala with a harmonious and unmistakable fragrance. The first year to be produced was the 1987 and consisted of the blend of varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc (50%); Grechetto (30%) and Drupeggio (20%). The composition of the blend has varied over the years and now has attained its definitive results. Muffato della Sala is a fascinating wine, an expression, in small quantities, of the nature of a unique terroir.
