To mark the release of Cervaro della Sala 2025, JRE international partner Marchesi Antinori shares Renzo Cotarella’s personal account of the wine’s origins. His reflections trace its development at Castello della Sala, from the first experiments in the early 1980s to the people and decisions that continue to shape its character.
Marchesi Antinori - Cervaro della Sala 2025: The story behind a vision
The idea behind Cervaro della Sala
Creating a white wine that could express the character of Castello della Sala was the ambition that brought Cervaro della Sala to life. For Renzo Cotarella, those early years were driven by curiosity and a belief in the possibilities of this corner of Umbria.
“I certainly had more heart than reason: passion and emotion went beyond my expertise and, perhaps, even beyond good sense.”
Turning that intuition into a wine took time. The first experiments brought setbacks as well as discoveries, with knowledge developing through experience. Piero Antinori’s support encouraged the team to continue testing and learning, even when the results were disappointing.
In 1985, the first Cervaro della Sala emerged. Each subsequent harvest would bring a deeper understanding of the vineyards and new decisions about how to express them.
Cervaro della Sala
Understanding its character
Cervaro della Sala’s style has evolved alongside that understanding. Cotarella recalls an early focus on freshness and fragrance, followed by years spent exploring greater richness and power. Today, he describes the direction as intensity expressed through finesse.
At the heart of this approach is the character of Castello della Sala itself. The Mediterranean nature of the fruit, the limestone soils and the estate’s particular climate contribute to the wine’s identity. Chardonnay forms its foundation, while a small proportion of Grechetto maintains a connection to its Umbrian origins.
For Cotarella, understanding these elements is an ongoing process. Changing seasons, knowledge and palates continue to shape the work, inviting the team to question familiar approaches and keep exploring.
Cervaro della Sala
About the 2025 vintage
Cervaro della Sala 2025 brings together 96% Chardonnay and 4% Grechetto. Balanced growing conditions supported gradual ripening, while warm days and cooler nights helped preserve freshness. Harvesting began with Chardonnay around mid-August, followed by Grechetto over the following weeks.
The varieties are vinified separately. Chardonnay ferments in barriques and undergoes partial malolactic fermentation, while Grechetto is fermented without oak ageing. After blending, the wine spends further time in bottle before release.
The vintage report describes citrus and white floral aromas, with hints of hazelnut and a flinty mineral character. Freshness and balance run through the tasting notes, reflecting the finesse Cotarella seeks in the wine.
The people behind the wine
Cotarella’s reflections also recognise the many people who have contributed to Cervaro della Sala over the years. An intuition provided the starting point; bringing it to life required shared conviction, practical knowledge and sustained dedication.
That collective effort continues with every vintage. His account conveys the satisfaction of knowing Castello della Sala more closely, alongside the curiosity to discover what it still has to offer.
With anniversary celebrations planned for 2027, the release of Cervaro della Sala 2025 offers a moment to explore this continuing relationship between a wine, its place of origin and the people who shape it.
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