UMBRIA
Umbria is a wonderful area worthy of greater exploration. In
neighboring Tuscany you can hear a lot of English being spoken, while Umbria is
probably better known to many European tourists. One factor in this is the
cost, as Umbria tends to be less expensive than its famous neighbor.
We don't have extensive notes on places to stay or dine in Umbria, but we did
have a rather nice time at a little place in the town of Bevagna.
ENOTECA-LOCANDA "PIAZZA ONOFRI"
Piazza Onofri 06031 Bevagna - Perugia
Tel. +39 0742 36 19 26
Fax +39 0742 36 91 00
e-mail: info@enotecaonofri.it
web site: www.enotecaonofri.it
A Bay Area friend had suggested this place and after perusing the web
site, we made reservations for both dinner and rooms.
The town of Bevagna isn't especially large, but its maze of streets was a modest
challenge to our finding the place. Happily, a small piazza a block away
provided ample parking.
Our hostess (and the owner of the place) suggested a sparkling
wine to start our evening. She poured Villa Frattina's "Lison-Pramaggiore"
Chardonnay, a lively little dry sparkling wine made in Friuli.
The restaurant seats about 50-75 people (I think) and on our visit in the middle
of winter, only a few tables were occupied. The owner is an avid music fan
and her collections of albums is varied. We heard Josephine Baker when we
arrived and some delightful Brazilian sounds as we stumbled across the alley and
upstairs to the modest hotel rooms.
A polite way of asking people not to smoke...a difficult task in most of Europe!
We decided to do a small "tasting" of the wines of nearby
Montefalco. Carlo was familiar with a number of the wines on the extensive
wine list.
My "starter" was a copious quantity of the "Selezione di Salumi."
The menu offers quite an extensive list of various types of Prosciutti and other
interesting cold cuts.
Pasta!
Wild Boar "stewed".
THE WINES
Since we were going to visit the Caprai winery
the next morning, we ordered wines from other producers in an effort to
broaden our horizons.
Fattoria di MILZIADE ANTANO
1997
Montefalco Sagrantino "Collealldole"
A wine showing dark fruit aromas with a hint of
anise...medium-bodied and a bit of spice on the finish. Quite nice
and a traditionally-styled red wine.
Azienda Agricola COLPETRONE-SAIAGRICOLA
1998
Sagrantino di Montefalco
Most of the tasters did not particularly appreciate
this internationally-styled red wine. It does not display elements
which might allow one to guess this as Sagrantino, if served it
blind. On the other hand, the sweet oak will be appreciated by
those looking for a French oak-aged red wine.
Azienda Agricola
ANTONELLI San Marco
1997
Sagrantino di Montefalco
I felt this showed hints of a cocoa note on the
nose. It certainly is not especially oaky, particularly served
alongside the Colpetrone wine. I found this to be a bit
astringent, yet not structured enough to warrant cellaring. |
Not many at our table were interested in dessert....until they saw the
Semifreddo di Pignoli con salsa Ciocolatta. Several more of these were
ordered immediately!
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The rooms are relatively simple, but comfortable. Prices for the rooms
were modest, the dinner and accommodations amounting to something like
$75/person.
