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ITALY<br />
ORGANIC<br />
ARNALDO CAPRAI<br />
REDISCOVERING SAGRANTINO<br />
MARCO CAPRAI DECIDED IN 1988 TO FOCUS ENTIRELY ON ARNALDO CAPRAI<br />
SOCIETÀ AGRICOLA S.R.L., OF WHICH HE IS NOW MANAGING DIRECTOR<br />
It was 1971 when Arnaldo Caprai, already an Umbrian<br />
entrepreneur in the textile sector, decided to invest<br />
in wine production in Montefalco. He paved the<br />
way for the true rediscovery of Sagrantino, with<br />
the current CEO Marco Caprai later ensuring this<br />
winery became the absolute leader. A profound<br />
knowledge of viticulture and love for the region are<br />
the common thread running through the entire<br />
production process. The wines stand out for their<br />
finesse, quality and class and show real consistency<br />
over time. Caprai was among the first wineries in<br />
Italy to adopt a regional sustainability protocol (New<br />
Green Revolution) and is now certified as an Equalitas<br />
Sustainable Organisation. Since 2020, a Sustainability<br />
Report has been published on the company<br />
website, documenting all the initiatives adopted over<br />
the years for its environmental, social and economic<br />
management. In addition to Sagrantino, the<br />
company grows Sangiovese and Grechetto – along<br />
with small blocks of Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay<br />
and Sauvignon – as the basis for DOC Montefalco<br />
Rosso and Colli Martani Grechetto respectively. Its<br />
top wine is Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG and most<br />
of its 36 vineyards, located in six different meso-climates,<br />
are dedicated to its production.<br />
Michel Rolland has been a consultant winemaker<br />
since 2015. Since 1989, the company has been<br />
working with the University of Milan in the field of<br />
agronomic and oenological research focusing on<br />
experimentation with the Sagrantino vine. Since<br />
2008, this collaboration has led to the development<br />
of 4.0 sustainable farming, based on the use of technologies<br />
to reduce the environmental impact and<br />
effects of increasingly variable weather conditions,<br />
and thus improve productivity. 70% of Caprai’s wines<br />
are sold in Italy, mainly in the hotel and restaurant<br />
sector. The remaining 30% is mainly exported to the<br />
United States and the European Union, but small<br />
quantities are also exported to China, Switzerland,<br />
Canada, Thailand and South Korea.<br />
Sustainability is the clear driving force aimed at<br />
enhancing the land and wines of Emilia-Romagna<br />
and Umbria.<br />
SAGRANTINO GRAPES ARE HISTORICALLY SUITED TO DRYING FOR THE<br />
PRODUCTION OF EXCELLENT SWEET RED PASSITO WINES<br />
WINTER 2022 • GILBERT & GAILLARD - THE <strong>FR</strong>ENCH EXPERTS ON WINE<br />
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