Indigenous varietals, native yeasts with low-to-no adds.
From Chiaramonte Gulfi, in the province of Ragusa
Certified Organic and Biodynamic Practices
A true renaissance man. Lorenzo's passions and prides, are simply dolcissimo and he is completely impressive in his wide variety of talents. Lorenzo is an artist, a concert pianist, a farmer, an incredible olive oil producer and expressive winemaker of a beautiful region.
For centuries the manor has towered above the “Pianogrillo” hill. It is a true manor house of bio-diversity amid cypresses and olive groves, overlooking a green plain known as “Piana dell’Acate”, heaps of live stock (namely pigs native to Sicily known as “Nero dei Nebrodi”) within the ancient county of Modica and Chiaramonte (nowadays Province of Ragusa). Originally, during the Middle Ages, the building on the hill was a watchtower to lookout for and defend against the Saracens.
The list of quality producers making exciting wines in the Ragusa region is long and varied, and includes Arianna Occhipinti, COS, Gulfi, Paolo Calì and Valle dell’Acate to name a couple.
Vine pruning and training systems:
Guyot, Alberello a pedale d’olivo, Cordone speronato (spurred cordon).
Alberello (derived from ancient Greek viticultural techniques - the vines have no wires or support and grow low and densely in the vineyard)
2015 ~ Baroni di Pianogrillo - Grillo
Certified Organic
10yr old Grillo sourced from the marl (calcareous clay-based soil) and chalky, dry grown soils on the estate at 480m elevation. Destemmed and fermented on skins for 7 days in an open top concrete vessel, then transferred to stainless for 6 months and left on lees until bottling.
Unfiltered, unfined and only 50ppm sulphur at bottling.
2015 ~ Baroni di Pianogrillo - Frappato
Certified Organic
Between 10yr and 20yr old Frappato Vines from 450m elevation on marl soils, handpicked, destemmed and macerated for 10 days, zero punch downs and occasional battonage. The resulting wine is sent to large format, 25hl Slavonian oak for 3 months without racking until bottling.
Unfiltered, unfined and 65ppm sulphur at bottling
2015 ~ Baroni di Pianogrillo - Curva Minore
Certified Organic
50% Frappato and 50% Nero D'Avola. 20yr old, dry grown vines at 450m elevation on marl soils are handpicked and destemmed into separate open top fermenters for 10-12 days without punch downs and the occasional battonage before being transferred and blended to large tonneaux barrels (chestnut from Mount Etna) for 2 years.
Unfiltered, unfined and 70ppm sulphur at bottling