TORNATORE

Sicily can boast one of the oldest winemaking traditions of the whole Italian peninsula. In fact, it’s believed that vines grew spontaneously on the island even long before the arrival of the Greeks, who, after their settlement, were among the main architects of actual viticulture and the development of oenology in Sicily. Among the ancient and solid wineries that you can find in the area, the Tornatore winery stands out for its deep roots. It was founded in the Etna terroir in 1865, and it looks to the future with a continuous renewal approach. In 1910 Giuseppe Tornatore built a house in the Piano Fiera district with a 2 hectare vineyard, to which a 2 hectares were added in the Piano Felci district, all exposed on the north side of Etna. The soils, of volcanic origin, result from a mix of lava masses, ashes, and lapilli accumulated over the centuries. The climate is mild, affected by the influence of the Nebrodi Mountains, and it guarantees an excellent temperature shift between day and night, which facilitates the ripening process for the berries. In the vineyards, which extend for about 46 hectares within some very famous districts such as Pietrarizzo and Trimarchisa, you can find the typical white and red berried grapes, namely Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Carricante and Catarratto. Each year, the estate produces six labels, divided among Etna Rosso, Etna Bianco and Rosato, for a total of about 60,000 bottles a year, which however Francesco intends to bring, within a few years, to 400,000.