Trebbiano Spoletino: The rediscovery of Umbria’s once almost forgotten native white grape

Most white wines fall into two basic style categories depending on the inherent organoleptic properties of the grapes used to produce them:

1. Crisp, light to medium bodied, and aromatic, with fresh floral and fruit flavors
2. Fuller-bodied, round, and structured, with concentrated ripe fruit flavors.

Many other important factors also affect the quality and taste of a wine including:

• Grape Composition (single-varietal, blend)
• Terroir (soil type, climate, elevation)
• Weather (temperature, sunlight duration, amount of precipitation)
• Production method (stainless steel or concrete tanks, oak casks or barrels, amphorae)

Nevertheless, the flavor profile of most white wines usually fall into one of the two aforementioned categories.

There are exceptions, and Trebbiano Spoletino is one of them. Trebbiano Spoletino is a highly acidic and aromatic white varietal native to Umbria. Its thick skin enables it to ripen slowly, preserving moisture, and allowing it to develop higher levels of flavor complexity and sugar concentration. As a result, it can be crafted into fresh, crisp, and fruit and mineral-driven, as well as fuller-bodied and structured wines.

Trebbiano Spoletino are remarkably versatile, making them ideal as both aperitifs and food pairing candidates. It is produced in a range of styles including Spumante, Frizzante, and Pet-Nat, and single varietal and blended still white wines. The typical Trebbiano Spoletino is fresh, crisp, and medium-bodied, with balanced acidity, minerality, and salinity, floral, citrus, and orchard fruit aromas, and lemon, grapefruit, peach, apricot, and passion fruit notes.

Trebbiano Spoletino has existed for centuries in the central Italian city of Spoleto in Umbria. where it once grew wild and prolifically on ungrafted ancient vines throughout the valley. It was originally cultivated using the ancient maritata (married) vine training system. This practice involved growing vines up and between two closely planted trees.. This method of vine training yielded plenty of grapes and maximized space for growing additional crops. Nowadays, many producers prefer to use the guyot method to grow Trebbiano Spoletino, but some winemakers continue to employ the maritata system, pruning the vines to control yields and increase flavor concentration.

Trebbiano Spoletino was primarily used as a minor component in white wine blends until Azienda Vinicola Tabarrini, an innovator among the wine producers in Montefalco, produced the first vintage of single-varietal Trebbiano Spoletino in 2005. Its success helped to spark interest in the grape as a major indigenous white varietal. Antonelli San Marco, one of Montefalco’s most influential and important wineries, debuted Trebium (the winery’s first single-varietal Trebbiano Spoletino) in 2007. Antonelli’s current portfolio of Trebbiano Spoletino includes a refreshingly crisp and elegant Brut Nature and Extra Brut Spumante, and round and complex single varietal stainless steel-fermented, and oak-aged still wines.

Spoleto Trebbiano Spoletino was granted a DOC in 2011 for the still, Superiore, Spumante, and Passito styles. Most of the 50 hectares within the DOC dedicated to the cultivation of Trebbiano Spoletino are concentrated in the hills (up to 400 meters above sea level), in the lower-lying valleys, and in the plains. Trebbiano Spoletino produced outside of the Spoleto DOC are classified as Montefalco Bianco DOC. These may be crafted as a single-varietal Trebbiano Spoletino or a blend with local varieties like Grechetto and international grapes such as Chardonnay. Trebbiano Spoletino produced within Spoleto and Montefalco must contain minimum percentages of Trebbiano Spoletino in order to be classified DOC:

Spoleto Trebbiano Spoletino DOC

• Grape Composition: 85+% Trebbiano Spoletino, up to 15% other varietals

Spoleto Trebbiano Spoletino Superiore DOC

• Grape Composition: 85+% Trebbiano Spoletino, 0-15% other varietals (wines must demonstrate higher extraction and alcohol content to be labelled Superiore)

Spoleto Trebbiano Spoletino Spumante DOC

• Grape Composition: 85+% Trebbiano Spoletino, 0-15% other varietals

Spoleto Trebbiano Spoletino Passito DOC

• Grape Composition: 85+% Trebbiano Spoletino (must be dried), 0-15% other varietals

Montefalco Bianco DOC

• Grape Composition: 50+% Trebbiano Spoletino, 0-50% other varietals permitted within the Umbrian production area

I had the pleasure of trying Spoleto Trebbiano Spoletino DOC, Spoleto Trebbiano Spoletino Superiore DOC, Spoleto Trebbiano Spoletino Spumante DOC, Spoleto Trebbiano Spoletino Passito DOC, and Montefalco Bianco DOC from some of the area’s top producers at the A Montefalco anteprima 2025. The plethora of styles reflected the versatility of this indigenous white varietal:

Trebbiano Spoletino Spoleto DOC

Winery: Antonelli San Marco
Trebbiano Spoletino Spoleto DOC Trebium 2024
Color: Pale golden yellow
Flavor profile: Elegant and complex, with crisp acidity, a slight salinity, and white flower, lemon, grapefruit, passion fruit, and sliced almond notes.

Winery: Le Cimate
Trebbiano Spoletino Spoleto DOC 2024
Color: Straw-yellow with gold hints
Flavor profile: Medium-bodied, with balanced acidity and minerality, and ripe orchard fruit notes.

Trebbiano Spoletino Superiore Spoleto DOC

Winery: Colle Uncinano
Trebbiano Spoletino Superiore Spoleto DOC 2022
Color: Straw-yellow with greenish inflections
Flavor profile: Medium-bodied and vivacious, with balanced acidity and minerality, and lemon, peach, and passion fruit notes.

Winery: Le Cimate
Trebbiano Spoletino Superiore Spoleto DOC Riserva Del Cavalier Bartoloni 2021
Color: Honey straw-yellow
Flavor Profile: Crisp and vibrant, with soft acidity and minerality, and yellow flower, citrus and tropical fruit, and vegetal notes.

Spoleto Trebbiano Spoletino Spumante DOC

Winery: Colle Uncinano
Spoleto Trebbiano Spoletino Spumante DOC 2022 (Charmat method)
Color: Straw-yellow with greenish hints
Flavor Profile: Crisp and clean, with an energetic effervescence, and lemon, passion fruit, papaya and baked bread notes.

Winery: Antonelli San Marco
Spoleto Trebbiano Spoletino Spumante DOC Brut Nature 2021 (Classic Method)
Color: Pale straw-yellow
Flavor profile: Elegant, multi-layered and complex, with crisp acidity and minerality, fine and persistent effervescence, and fresh floral, citrus, and summer fruit notes.

Montefalco Bianco DOC

Winery: Colle Ciocco
Montefalco Bianco DOC 2024
Grape Composition: 70% Trebbiano Spoletino, 20% Viognier, 10% Chardonnay
Color: Pale straw-yellow
Flavor profile: Medium-bodied and structured, with soft acidity, and fresh green apple, passion fruit, and papaya notes.

Winery: Tenuta di Saragano
Montefalco Bianco DOC 2023
Grape Composition: 100% Trebbiano Spoletino
Color: Golden straw-yellow
Flavor profile: Fresh and vibrant, with good acidity and minerality, and lemon, apricot, passion fruit, and herbaceous notes.