Rosé IGP Terre Siciliane, Alessandro Viola 2021

The Viola family has always had a strong bond with their terroir, indigenous grapes and wine. Alessandro and Aldo's father was a winegrower and produced some wine for domestic consumption. Alessandro graduated in oenology and viticulture, and gained experience around the world before deciding to come back home and solely focus on the family’s land. The visceral love for his Sicilian roots makes him a fervent advocate for native varieties and catarratto in particular. This sensitive grape is especially well-suited to that corner of Sicily and it beautifully conveys a sense of place when put in the right hands.

Alessandro works in total 12ha split between Mount Bonifato (at 600-700 altitude) and inland valley scattered around Santa Ninfa and Pietrarenosa (at 250m altitude). Extremely respectful of his land he simply mows with disks in between rows and ploughs by hand around the vines – usually once or twice per season. Winter cover crops of fava and clover are planted for nitrogen fixing, soil texture and microbial life.

Nero d'avola from the valley near Santa Ninfa and a touch of nerello from Alcamo, both picked early, directly pressed and vinified/aged in stainless steel to enhance freshness of fruit. Zesty with acidulated red fruits, blood orange, and peppery aromas, this is the perfect spring/summer wine, pure pleasure and indeed pretty 'smashable'.

 Producer Alessandro Viola

Origin Alcamo, Trapani, Sicily, Italy

Grapes 90% Nero d’Avola, 10% Nerello Mascalese

Vintage 2021

Alcohol 13.5% ABV

Style Medium body natural rose

Bottle size 750ml 

Winemaking Manual harvested, destemeed and directly pressed,  fermented with indigenous yeast and aged stainless steel.  Unfiltred and unfined. Little SO2 added at bottling

Notes  Natural, Organic