research

/ vineyards

RESEARCH / VINEYARDS

the Ammirato vineyard

As an agronomist and with the daily knowledge of the area, I started my adventure in the wine world by renting vineyards. Thus, my paths led me to a hectare of espalier of Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio, which I call “Vigneto Ammirato”, with 15-year-old plants and an average yield of one and a half kilograms of grapes per plant.

the Spallarello vineyard

Then I found another hectare of vineyard, with older plants (40 years old), grown both in espalier and sapling, which I call “Vigneto Spallarello”, with a slightly lower yield and almost exclusively Carricante shoots. The saplings are truly extraordinary and have trunks with curious and bizarre shapes.

the Lu Meo vineyard

Finally, I managed to buy one hectare of Nerello Mascalese, Carricante and Catarratto grown mostly in espalier, which I call “Lu Meo”. All three are located in the northern area
of Etna, between 600 and 700 meters above sea level. Here the land changes often, depending on the eruptions.

In recent years these vineyards have been covered with lapilli and ash several times, making the soil more acidic, but also feeding it with interesting organoleptic components.

he management of the vineyard depends a lot on the climatic conditions throughout the year and on the activity of the volcano, especially since the south side is the one that has seen most of the effusive eruptions in the last twenty years, especially ash and lapilli.

I personally take care of managing the agronomic choices. The goal is to obtain the best grapes possible for the subsequent vinification, working to ensure that they mature in rich bunches with healthy berries.

These are choices that I make independently, respecting nature and the environment, practicing organic and sustainable agriculture, trusting the extraordinary power of this land.