{"product_id":"castello-della-sala-conte-della-vipera-2025","title":"Castello della Sala Conte della Vipera 2025","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Land\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCastello della Sala sits in Umbria, about 18 kilometers from Orvieto and just over the border from Tuscany. The estate covers 600 hectares, with 229 planted to vine on gently rolling hills between 220 and 470 meters above sea level. Soils are rich in marine fossils with veins of clay, unusual ground for this part of central Italy, and it's part of why Castello della Sala has become one of the more serious white wine sites in the region. The specific vineyards used for Conte della Vipera sit between 250 and 350 meters, well exposed with strong swings between day and night that keep the fruit's acidity intact through ripening.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Wine\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Grapes are hand-harvested, cooled before pressing to protect aromatics, and the must is settled at 10°C before a cool fermentation in stainless steel that stays below 16°C. The wine is then held cold to block malolactic fermentation, keeping its freshness intact rather than softening it. Sauvignon Blanc brings the lift and verticality, Sémillon fills in with a rounder, more tropical fruit, and the two are blended to complete each other. The house style runs bright straw yellow, with pink grapefruit, lychee, lime, and pineapple on the nose, a lively, crisp palate, and a long finish with passion fruit and a touch of minerality.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe People\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCastello della Sala is Antinori's Umbrian estate, dedicated almost entirely to white wine production apart from a single Pinot Noir planting that has found unexpectedly good conditions on this ground. Conte della Vipera takes its name from the Monaldeschi della Cervara family, who held the castle in the 16th century, and its label carries an image of the 13th-century Chapel of San Giovanni that still stands on the property. The wine was first produced in 1997, part of Castello della Sala's broader push to prove that Umbria could make serious, ageworthy whites and not just simple warm-weather wines.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood Pairing\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGrilled shrimp with lemon and chili, a goat cheese salad with citrus vinaigrette, fresh pasta with clams and white wine, or a plate of prosciutto and melon. The wine's bright acidity cuts through richer preparations while its tropical fruit picks up dishes built around citrus and shellfish.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Southern","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50593210204383,"sku":null,"price":33.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0439\/7436\/1248\/files\/P7250758.jpg?v=1785128330","url":"https:\/\/denverwinemerchant.com\/products\/castello-della-sala-conte-della-vipera-2025","provider":"Denver Wine Merchant","version":"1.0","type":"link"}