Nivuro Nostrale, Tanca Nica 2018

Tanca Nica is run by Nicoletta Pecorelli, originally from Sardinia, and Francesco Ferreri, born and bred in Pantelleria. Francesco got the wine bug at a young age, inspired by his grandfather while making wine with him. He already knew he wanted to be a vignaiolo aged 14yo, and left Pantelleria for Conegliano (Veneto) to study at the renowned agricultural and oenological boarding school. After years of research and jobs in wineries as well as oenology labs, he got a gig at the biodynamic estate Seresin in New Zealand. And it is there, on the other side of the world, that he felt the pull of his roots – Pantelleria’s magnetic force brought him back among his grandfather’s vines (2016). Francesco came back on a mission: reviving the old ways, upholding traditions and savoir-faire that have been devalued and lost – 6,000ha of vines in the 1960s and about 500ha in 2010, sadly most of them are in the hands of big brands these days.

Nivuro Nostrale is the Pantesco name for the pignatello grape also known as perricone on the mainland. As per the catarratto, pignatello prefers shadow and humidity, and the 80-90yo vines here are mostly found growing against the terrasses’ walls. Vertical, lifted and rustic the wine displays spicy and peppery aromatics, the mouthfeel is dense and umami-loaded with cured meat, capers and balsamic notes – quintessentially Pantesco!

Producer  Tanca Nica of Francesco Ferreri and Nicoletta Pecorelli

Origin Panteleria, Sicily, Italy

Grapes Pignatello

Vintage 2018

Alcohol  12.5% ABV

Style Medium body red

Bottle size 750ml

Winemaking Manual harvested, Grapes are partially destemmed and macerate for 10-15 days before gentle pressing. The wine feeds a 'riserva perpetua' started in 2016 – every year 150ltr are taken from the old barrels and bottled with a pinch of SO2. Fermented with  indigenous yeast. Unfiltred, unfined, Little So2 added at bottling.

Notes Organic, Natural, Biodynamic