Cantina Antoliolo are making lovely natural wines in the foothills of the Apennine mountain range in Italy’s Umbria
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Giulia and Giorgio Antonioli came to wine as a second career: she was an archaeologist and he was an art historian. But in 2018 they changed direction and rented some old vineyards on the slopes of the Apennine Mountains in Umbria (just to the south than Tuscany in the middle of the country) and renovating them.
Now Cantino Antiolino works with a selection of 60-120 year old vine plots on two different soil types: limestone and clay. The two main white varieties are Trebbiano Toscana and Malvasia.
Viticulture is enlightened, and winemaking is natural. This is a fabulous project. I tasted these wines at VinNatur in Paris, November 2025.
Cantina Antoliolo Antimes Branco 2022 Umbria, Italy
This is direct pressed to cement tank, where it ferments and then ages for two years. Full yellow colour. Nice expressive pear fruit with lovely balance, showing supple citrus fruit and orange peel, with a hint of mint. Midweight, fresh and expressive, this is delicious. 92/100
Cantina Antoliolo Ambratile Branco 2022 Umbria, Italy
12% alcohol. Two years in cement. Lively and bright with a stony edge to the fruit, as well as a bit of structure. Notes of apple, mandarin, orange peel and mint with an appealing wet clay/stone edge. Distinctive. 93/100
Cantina Antoliolo Il Male Minore Rosato 2023 Umbria, Italy
Trebbiano Toscana and Sangiovese, one year in fibre glass. Pale pink/orange colour. Complex nose of mint, cherry and apple. The palate is textural, fine grained and well balanced, showing good restraint. 92/100
Cantina Antoliolo Il Male Minore Rosso 2021 Umbria, Italy
Merlot and Cielegiolo. Vibrant and juicy with cherries, herbs and spice. Has some sour cherry and a slight bitter tang. Good energy here. 90/100
Cantina Antoliolo Grabovio Rosso 2021 Umbria, Italy
13% alcohol. Merlot, Cielegiolo, Sangiovese and Barbera from limestone soils. Luicy and lively with nice acidity. Tart redcurrant and cherry fruit with a slight savoury twist. Supple and linear with a sour cherry finish. 92/100
Cantina Antoliolo Agreste Elegante 2021 Umbria, Italy
13.5% alcohol. Merlot, Sangiovese, Cielegiolo, Barbera from clay soils. Juicy, bright and lively with nice tart cherry and plum fruit as well as some structure. Vivid raspberry notes, too. Nice balance with the juicy fruit to the fore. 93/100
