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Orvieto is one of the best-known white Italian wines in
the world. Winemaking tradition is deeply rooted in Orvieto.
The Etruscans dug deep cellars in the tufaceous rocks
typical of the area, and fermentation was completed in
these cool caves after several months, leaving a sugary
residue in the wine which contributed towards its popularity.
In the Middle Ages and Renaissance it was one of the favourite wines of the Pontifical Court (Pope Paul III was especially fond of it and Gregory XVI asked for his body to be washed in Orvieto wine before burial), and was praised by poets, artists and famous men, including Pinturicchio (when he painted in Orvieto, he demanded in his contract that he be supplied with "as much wine as he could drink"). The wine actually played an important role in the construction of the Cathedral of Orvieto: the workers in the Monte Piso quarries who extracted the travertine marble purchased large quantities periodically between 1347 and 1349, with the bowls and jugs to drink it; but even more clamorous are the memories of fuss made in Orvieto and other cities with skilled workers who wanted to receive free quantities of the wine. Work timetables allowed for mid-morning and mid-afternoon breaks to drink "mistu", perhaps water and wine.
The Cathedral Institution dispensed wine on important occasions like the completion of works or on the request of the workers' chief. But what is most interesting is that it was expressly requested in work contracts. An example is the one drawn up by Luca Signorelli in 1500 for painting frescoes, in which it is stated that the Institution would give him 12 some of wine per year (about 1,000 litres).
Item che la fabrica sia obligata a darli, per lo tempo che lui lavora continuo, dui quartenghe di grano al mese e dodice some di mosto per ciascun anno alla vendebia incomensando alla vendebia proxima che verrà.
It is stated that the employer shall be obliged to give him for the duration of the work, two quartenghe of wheat per month and twelve some of wine per year at the time of the grape harvest starting with the next harvest.
In less distant times, Garibaldi and his Thousand to toast with Orvieto, before leaving the port of Talamone for their Sicilian adventure; D'Annunzio defined it as "Italian sun in a bottle"; Enrico Fermi and the lads of via Panisperna saluted with glasses of Orvieto the successful nuclear reaction. It is appreciated by famous connoisseurs like Philip Dallas, author of a book about Italian wines ("Orvieto wine is, like Frascati, Chianti, etc., one of Italy's best-known wines abroad... it is the ideal wine to share while initiating a young lady into bacchic delights") or Alexis Lichine, a great French wine expert ("Vin blanc délicieux d'Italie. C'est un de ceux dont la qualité est la plus constánte" - Delicious Italian white wine. One of the most constant in high quality). |
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ORVIETO CATHEDRAL
"detail of the façade frieze" |
