UNICORN WINES FROM A FANTASY LAND.

UNICORN WINES FROM A FANTASY LAND.

It is in the incredible scenery of the Aeolian Islands, and in particular the island of Lipari, that wines that have no comparison in the rest of Sicily or in the Italian wine scene get born. A unique and actually very ancient terroir, only recently rediscovered thanks to a meticulous work of recovery and repropagation of the ancient native grape varietals of this fantastic territory: Corinto Nero and Malvasia delle Lipari.

4 ELEMENTS WINES

The Sicilian Greek philosopher Empedocles (c. 450 BC) was the first to propose the four classical elements as a set: fire, earth, air, and water. He called them the four “roots”. The terroir of Lipari and so of Tenuta di Castellaro result like the application of his four elements theory in wine

LIPARI TERROIR.

The organic cultivation exclusively with sapling on volcanic sandy soil, very rich in microelements such as residues of volcanic rocks, sulfur and lapilli, the strong temperature range given in particular by the continuous blowing of the proverbial winds of the Aeolian Islands – above all the Mistral and the Sirocco – and from the altitude above the sea, together with the peculiarities of the grape varietals, make the production of Tenuta di Castellaro something that goes beyond the genre tags that are usually used to describe Sicilian wines.

MEDITERRANEAN FEELING vs. CONTINENTAL LANGUAGE

You definitely won’t expect this wine from such latitude. While it is evident the flavor of the Sicilian fruit and so the overall Mediterranean feeling, you’ll also find the pure minerality and freshness that is typical to a wine born in a continental climate. The wines speak an oenological language that is evidently typical of Lipari and the Aeolian Islands as a wine-growing area with characteristics apart from the rest of Sicily and southern Italy in general.

HEAD TRAINED BUSHES

The recovery of abandoned soil and the careful selection of the healthiest and oldest native vines of the Aeolian Islands was a huge undertaking, but one that reflected the commitment to preserving tradition. The vineyards are exclusively cultivated using the traditional alberello (“little tree”) training system, each vine individually staked at extremely high densities.

CORINTO NERO

The story tells that in 1889, when the phylloxera destroyed the vines of half of Europe, the Liparese Corinto Nero survived because it was cultivated in an old crater (Fossa del Monte) with a soil so rich in ash and sand that it did not allow the parasite to take root. In the past the grapes were used for the production of sultana raisins (passolina), today it is vinified in purity and used in the production of Malvasia delle Lipari DOC, to the extent of 5-8%, giving it the characteristic amber color. The main characteristics of Corinto Nero from an enological point of view are given by its particular morphological aspects. Being practically devoid of pips, it is therefore also devoid of herbaceous hints and harshness given by the related tannins.

MALVASIA DELLE LIPARI

The origin of its name derives from an ancient port in the Peloponnese colony of Venice the Serenissima, called Menemvasia or Monovaxia (i.e. port with a single entrance). Sweet and aromatic wines were produced here, shipped to Europe by Venetian merchants who traded the “Vinum de Malvasie”. The popularity of Malvasia is linked to the city of Venice, where the taverns were once called “malvase”. In the 19th century, the Malvasia trade spread throughout Europe, thanks to the English stationed in Messina.

A little bit North of the eastern side of Sicily

A slideshow of images from the incredible scenery and terroir of the Aeolian archipelago, North East of Sicily. You might want to visit one day!

Contact Info

Tenuta di Castellaro
Via Caolino snc
98055 Lipari (ME) Italy