Farro di Monteleone di Spoleto

A local ecotype of Triticum dicoccum emmer wheat grown in the mountainous south-east of Perugia Province, Umbria, at an altitude of at least 700 m above sea level. Its defining characteristic is a light brown/amber caryopsis that, when fractured, is vitreous and compact. The designation covers four marketed forms: whole, semi-pearled, cracked, and semolina.

About this designation

Farro di Monteleone di Spoleto was registered as a PDO on 11 May 2007 under file number PDO-IT-0603 (eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000013906). The designation covers a local ecotype of Triticum dicoccum emmer wheat characterised by a spring growth habit, plant height less than 120 cm, small flat ears with an off-white colour at full ripeness, and a light brown/amber caryopsis with vitreous fracture — a characteristic that persists across all four marketed forms, including after grinding. The production area is confined to the mountainous south-east of Perugia Province and encompasses the entire administrative areas of Monteleone di Spoleto and Poggiodomo, together with parts of Cascia, Sant'Anatolia di Narco, Vallo di Nera, and Scheggino, at an altitude of at least 700 m above sea level. The specification requires that production, scouring, husking, polishing, cracking, and grinding all take place within this defined area. The four recognised forms are: Farro Integrale (whole), Farro Semiperlato (semi-pearled), Farro Spezzato (cracked), and Semolino di Farro (semolina). Retail packaging is restricted to 0.5 kg and 1 kg vacuum-sealed plastic bags and 25 kg paper or nylon sacks. Labels must display the designation's logo — a rectangle bearing a rampant lion holding two ears of emmer wheat and six further ears — together with the Community graphic symbol.

Source: The register document this entry was written from · retrieved August 26, 2026

Distinctive facts

• Registered as a PDO on 11 May 2007 under file number PDO-IT-0603, eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000013906.
• The specification permits no emmer wheat other than the local Triticum dicoccum ecotype adapted to the defined production area.
• Scientific studies cited in the specification found that seeds grown outside the Valnerina valley production area lose their vitreous caryopsis characteristic over time.
• Emmer wheat caryopses very probably belonging to the Triticum dicoccum species traditionally grown in Monteleone di Spoleto were found in an Etruscan tomb dating to the 6th century BC.

Tasting notes

Umbrian emmer wheat from Monteleone di Spoleto (Perugia province), traditional Triticum dicoccum. Distinctive nutty flavor, chewy texture, characteristic Umbrian profile.

HoReCa use

The specification notes that Farro Semiperlato is recommended for soups and salads. The specification also references traditional festive and everyday soups and broths as preparations associated with the product.

Packaging

• vacuum-pack-500g
• vacuum-pack-1kg