The ‘Strada del Vino Colli del Trasimeno’. Discovering Umbria’s (almost) Secret Wine Route

A Guide to Umbria’s Lake Trasimeno Wines: the Strada del Vino Colli del Trasimeno

Umbria is a region rich in history, culture, delicious cuisine—and, enticingly, exceptional wine. While neighboring Tuscany often steals the spotlight with its world-famous Montepulciano Vino Nobile and Brunello di Montalcino, Umbria’s wine scene remains one of Italy’s best-kept secrets. Sharing a similar terroir—fertile soils, a temperate climate, and a passion for Sangiovese—Umbria offers wine lovers an authentic and less-traveled experience.

A perfect starting point is the Strada del Vino Colli del Trasimeno, a scenic wine route winding through 22 wineries around Lake Trasimeno, on the Umbria-Tuscany border. Explore native grape varieties, meet passionate winemakers, and enjoy unforgettable tastings in one of Italy’s most enchanting wine regions. It’s a journey for the senses though landscapes of the Renaissance painters.

A Brief History of The Trasimeno Wine Route

Wine has been cultivated in this region since before the Romans, when ancient Etruscans first tended the ancestral vines of today’s Grechetto and Sangiovese.  Centuries before today’s vineyards lined the Strada del Vino Colli del Trasimeno, these gentle hills were prized by the Etruscans for their fertile soils and easy lake trade routes. Roman writers later praised wines from the area, and the lakeshore itself became famous in 217 BCE when Hannibal’s forces defeated the Roman army at the Battle of Trasimene. Archaeological finds of amphorae and wine-pressing tools around Castiglione del Lago and Tuoro sul Trasimeno still echo that long viticultural lineage.

Innovation Among the Hills: Umbria’s Modern Winemakers

Building on those ancient roots, Umbria’s modern wine story gained real momentum in the mid-20th century when small family producers began replanting hillside vineyards, focusing on quality over bulk production. The official Strada del Vino del Colli Trasimeno wine route was created in the early 2000s to showcase the hills encircling the lake and the families who revived them after decades of small-scale farming. Notable estates such as Madrevite, Pucciarella, Berna and the historic Duca della Corgna cooperative have championed the area’s signature grapes: Grechetto for textured, mineral whites and the Gamay del Trasimeno — a local strain of Grenache with a long but once-obscure history.

Among its most glamorous names is the Lamborghini estate, founded in the 1960s by Ferruccio Lamborghini after he stepped back from supercar fame. His vision transformed an Umbrian farm into a stylish winery producing elegant Sangiovese- and Merlot-based reds that helped bring international attention to the lake’s potential. Influential figures like winemaker Nicola Chiucchiurlotto of Madrevite helped put the lake’s reds and rosés on the international radar, while annual events such as Cantine Aperte and the summertime Calici di Stelle draw visitors into cellar doors and lakeside piazzas. Today the route winds through olive groves, medieval villages and panoramic vineyards, offering a vibrant taste of how ancient heritage and modern creativity meet on the gentle slopes of the Trasimeno hills.

From Grechetto to Gamay del Trasimeno

The vineyards around Lake Trasimeno thrive on a mild, breezy microclimate that nurtures a mix of native and international grapes with distinct personalities. Gamay del Trasimeno is the local star: despite its name, it’s actually a unique Umbrian clone of Grenache, producing vibrant reds and rosés with juicy cherry and spice notes. Grechetto, the region’s classic white, gives textured, almond-tinged wines that balance fresh acidity with a gentle mineral edge. You’ll also find well-structured Sangiovese and small plantings of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, which lend depth to blends. Old vines, lake-moderated temperatures and sandy, mineral-rich soils add a soft elegance to these wines, making Trasimeno bottles food-friendly and surprisingly age-worthy.

Key Vineyards and Winemakers on the Strada del Vino Colli Trasimeno

DOC Trasimeno zone includes Castiglione del Lago, Magione, Paciano, Panicale, Passignano sul
Trasimeno, and Tuoro sul Trasimeno, Città della Pieve, Corciano, Perugia, and Piegaro. Each winery along the Strada del Vino Colli Trasimeno is deeply commitment to quality, sustainability, and showcasing native grape varieties as well as the area’s natural diversity.

Experience the Trasimeno Wine Route for Yourself

A trip along the vineyards of the Strada del Vino Colli Trasimeno is more than a wine tasting tour.
It’s a feast for the eyes, a gift for your soul. It’s an opportunity to connect with the history, landscape, people
that make this region unforgettable.

A List of the 22 Cantine of The Strada del Vino Colli Trasimeno

Many wineries along the Strada del Vino Colli Trasimeno offer guided
tasting tours, and a chance to explore traditional cellars. A veritable insider’s look into the
art and passion that joins the grapes inside every bottle. For a personalised experience, some wineries host private tastings with detailed explanations of the Colli Trasimeno DOC grape varieties. Organised multi-winery tours, are also available through local companies so you can explore several vineyards in a single day, with transport, tastings, lunch, and scenic walks included. Themed tours focusing on organic and sustainable winemaking highlight eco-friendly practices and add a unique twist.

During harvest season from September to October, at some wineries you can participate in grape picking and enjoy
harvest festivals, to have a live, immersive experience of traditional winemaking. To make the most of these
experiences, it’s best to book tours in advance, either directly with the wineries or through local tour operators.

Castiglione del Lago

Azienda Agricola Poggio Santa Maria
Loc. La Villa, 30 – Dr. Teodoro Calvo +
39 3351288121 – www.poggiosantamaria.it

Cantina del Trasimeno Duca della Corgna
Via Roma, 236 – Tel. +39 0759652493 – Fax +39 0759525303
– www.ducadellacorgna.it

Il Poggio
Via Petrarca, 60 – Macchie – Tel./Fax +39 075 9680381 – www.vitivinicolailpoggio.com

La Sugarella
Via Giardini, 23 – Petrignano del Lago
Tel. +39 0759528292 – 3332434743 – www.lasugarella.it

Madrevite
Via Cimbano, 36 – Vaiano – Tel./Fax +39 3470046160 – 3337290039 – 0759527220 –
www.madrevite.com

Podere Marella
Loc. Ferretto, 32 – Tel. +39 0759659028 – +39 3663172990 www.poderemarella.com

Corciano

Agriturismo e Azienda agricola Casali del Toppello
Via Toppello, 5/7 – Loc. Mantignana
Tel.
+39 3356170584 – www.casalideltoppello.it

Colle Umberto

Az. Agr. Carlo e Marco Carini
Strada del Tegolaro – Tel./Fax +39 0756059495 – www.agrariacarini.it

Coldibetto
Voc. Col di Betto – Tel. +39 346 1454558 Raffaele – www.coldibetto.com

Fontignano

Società Agricola Casaioli Stefano
Strada Pievaiola, 321/H – +39 349 3822657 – www.agricolacasaioli.it

Magione

Az.Agr. Pucciarella
Via Case Sparse, 39 – Fraz. Villa di Magione- Tel. +39 0758409147 – Fax +39
0758409440 – www.pucciarella.it

Cantina Berioli
Via del Moscatello, 3 – Tel. +39 3452586604 – 335 5498173 – 349 5241724-
www.cantinaberioli.it

Cantina Nofrini
Via Colle Castelluccio, 5 – Tel. +39 075841595 – +39 3204605322 – www.casaleilpicchio.it

Castello di Magione
Viale Cavalieri di Malta, 31 – Tel. +39 075843547 – www.castellodimagione.it

Molini Popolari Riuniti Cantina Terre del Carpine
Via Formanuova, 87 – Tel. +39 075840298 – www.mpr-eu.it

Panicale

Az. Agr. La Querciolana
Via Vieniche, 4 – Tel. +39 3930261934 – +39 3282196849 Alessio www.laquerciolana.it
Yes Trasimeno Card: free guided
tour of the vineyard, cellar and church by appointment. Followed by paid tastings
Tenuta
Lamborghini
Loc. Soderi, 1 – Tel. + 39 0758350029 www.tenutalamborghini.it

Piegaro

Azienda Agricola Pomario
Loc. Pomario , 30- Tel. + 39 0758358579 – 3470680626 – www.pomario.it
La Casa Dei Cini soc. agr. semplice di R. e
C.Cini
Voc. Petroso, 68 – Pietrafitta – Tel. +39 349 2594845 – www.lacasadeicini.it

Tuoro sul Trasimeno

Az. Agricola Montemelino
Fonte S. Angelo, 15 – Tel. +39 3382858418 – www.montemelino.com

Perugia

Vineria Chiesa del Carmine
Strada Castiglione Ugolino snc
Loc. La Bruna – Tel. +39 075
9414219 www.chiesadelcarmine.com
On the Strada del Vino Colli Trasimeno you can
immerse yourself in the heart of Umbria’s winemaking heritage, where Etruscan traditions and modern sustainability meet.

Each vineyard along the route tells a story through its wines, the essence of the Colli Trasimeno landscape
and the dedication and passion of local winemakers.
Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or simply looking for a
memorable journey, this scenic route offers a taste of Italy’s best-kept secrets.
HERE for more about other excellent Umbrian Winemakers

CIN CIN!