Antinori Castello della Sala 2025 "San Giovanni della Sala" Orvieto Classico Superiore 750ml

San Giovanni della Sala is Antinori's contemporary reinterpretation of the Orvieto Classico appellation — a wine born from the vineyards immediately surrounding the medieval Castello della Sala, roughly 18 kilometers from the historic city of Orvieto, on the Umbrian side of the border with Tuscany. Where traditional Orvieto Classico leans almost entirely on Grechetto and Procanico, San Giovanni pushes the blend somewhere genuinely new, folding in Pinot Bianco and Viognier alongside those two native varieties — a combination the estate itself describes simply as "a contemporary representation of Orvieto Classico." The wine's first vintage arrived in 1990, and it has spent the decades since building a genuine following, with Wine-Searcher's critic aggregate placing recent vintages consistently in the high 80s to low 90s — including a standout 94-point showing in 2020.

The 2025 growing season gave the estate genuinely favorable conditions from start to finish: a mild winter free of extreme weather allowed proper vine dormancy, a regular spring with average temperatures and sufficient rainfall ensured good vegetative recovery and uniform budbreak, and a warm summer without prolonged heat peaks — aided by ventilation and the altitude of the hillside vineyards themselves — kept water stress in check and promoted balanced ripening. Rainfall, while not abundant, concentrated conveniently in the first half of August, sustaining vine vigor through a slow, steady ripening process that favored the development of genuinely complex aromas while maintaining a healthy balance between sugar and acidity.

Grapes are entirely hand-harvested beginning the second week of September, fermented separately by variety, with a portion of the fruit given a short cold maceration and the remainder pressed directly, all in stainless steel at a controlled 16°C. The wine rests on its lees for several months before the final blend is assembled and bottled. The 2025 pours bright straw yellow with delicate greenish reflections, hinting at the wine's freshness and vibrancy. The nose offers a fine, elegant aromatic profile: white flowers intertwine with fruity hints of white peach, accompanied by citrus nuances of lime and yellow grapefruit. On the palate, the wine is enveloping and well-balanced, with a structure that harmonizes freshness and softness — lively acidity combined with those same citrus notes making for a wine that's genuinely balanced and pleasantly persistent through the finish. A previous vintage's Falstaff review found "fresh pineapple, yellow pear and apricots, plus fine floral aromas," with "fine fruit texture and well-integrated acidity," calling the finish "hearty and with good length" — a house style that clearly holds true across vintages.

Origins & Craftsmanship

San Giovanni della Sala is produced by Marchesi Antinori at Castello della Sala, the family's Umbrian estate located roughly 18 kilometers from the historic city of Orvieto, near the Tuscan border. The Antinori family's winemaking history dates to 1385, when Giovanni di Piero Antinori became a member of the Arte Fiorentina dei Vinattieri, the Florentine Winemakers' Guild — the family has directly managed the winery across 26 generations since. Castello della Sala's medieval property spans 600 hectares total, with 229 hectares planted to vineyard at altitudes ranging from 220 to 470 meters on the gently rolling hillsides characteristic of the region — terrain that has been recognized since Roman times as ideally suited to producing outstanding white wine.

San Giovanni della Sala is a blend of Grechetto and Procanico — Orvieto's traditional native varieties — combined with Pinot Bianco and Viognier, offered by the estate as a genuinely contemporary interpretation of the historic Orvieto Classico style. The wine's first vintage was released in 1990. Grapes are entirely hand-harvested beginning in the second week of September, with fermentation carried out separately by variety: part of the fruit undergoes a short cold maceration, while the remainder is pressed directly, all fermented in stainless steel tanks at 16°C. The finished wine rests on its lees for several months prior to final blending and bottling — no oak is used at any stage, preserving the wine's aromatic purity and natural vibrancy.

Tasting Profile

Nose
Bright straw yellow with delicate greenish reflections. White flowers intertwine with fruity hints of white peach, accompanied by citrus nuances of lime and yellow grapefruit. Fresh pineapple, apricot, and subtle tropical notes round out a fine, elegant aromatic profile.

Palate
Enveloping and well-balanced, with a structure that harmonizes freshness and softness. Lively acidity combines with citrus character throughout, alongside orchard fruit and a gentle mineral tone that adds genuine savory depth.

Finish
Balanced and pleasantly lasting, closing with persistent yellow fruit flavors and the same lively citrus character that defines the wine from the first sniff — hearty and genuinely long, consistent with the estate's broader house style across vintages.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Seafood-based first courses and shellfish
• Fresh cheeses
• Light Italian pasta dishes
• White fish and grilled seafood