Inzolia grows on the beach in Menfi
- Letto 1427 volteInzolia is one of the most ancient native grapes of Sicily, where it is grown since time immemorial: its favorite terroir is the sicilian coastline, where the Mediterranean Sea washes beautiful sandy shores.
Understanding Massal Selection
- Letto 4793 volteMassal selection is a traditional technique for vines' reproduction that aims at preserving their intra-varietal genetic variability, in order to maintain the vineyard's distinctive traits and its relation with terroir intact.
Why is it so important for wine's quality?
Zibibbo, a story of Sicilian identity
- Letto 32541 volteZibibbo is one of the rarest grapes in the world with a triple attitude: it is a wine grape, a table grape and a raisin grape. Its extraordinary adaptability is the main reason for a long history that dates back 5.000 years.
Frappato: a star is born
- Letto 6141 volteFrom a minor grape variety to a Sicilian superstar, Frappato has enchanted people's palate in a short time. It is a versatile grape: single varietal frappato is easy drinking and excellent companion for food; when blended with Nero d'Avola, it offers structure and elegance.
What wine producers can do for climate change
- Letto 4380 volteTransportation and electricity are the two most significant expenditure items in a winery’s budget, and the ones with the greatest environmental impact. Cutting down transportation can be complex, but making energy-related sustainable choices is, instead, very easy and is a strong commitment for change.
New labels for my wines
- Letto 5662 volteI am very excited to announce that my new labels are ready!
La Bambina, Inzolia and Nero d'Avola Menfi DOC now have a new design and also new names (well, some of them).
Why - and what happens if - a wine loses its DOC
- Letto 6048 volteIt happens sometimes that a wine that has had a DOC label for many years suddenly loses its appellation. Here I explain the bureaucratic mysteries of Italian DOCs, and why producers must re-classify their wines in order to be able to sell them.
Grillo, the new cool Sicilian wine
- Letto 19738 volteI am quite sure that nobody outside Sicily knew anything about Grillo only 10 years ago.
This is also still the case for many indigenous Sicilian grapes, but the one surprising thing is that Grillo's popularity has broadened from being totally obscure to becoming one of the most appreciated varieties in a very limited amount of time.
Ten years of wine
- Letto 10684 volteA new year, trying to take stock of the past ten years of my life
Weight of a wine bottle
- Letto 12225 volteFrom a marketing point of view, packaging plays a fundamental role in the perceived value of wine, and marketers spend a lot of efforts in the design of bottles and labels
Catarratto, a Sicilian classic
- Letto 28841 volteCatarratto [KAH-tahr-RAT-toh] is one of the classic traditional white grape varieties of Sicily, and is considered to be one of the most antique.
Nero d’Avola is a woman
- Letto 11963 volteNero d’Avola is one of the traditional red wine grapes of Sicily, and is rapidly becoming quite a popular variety all over the world.
Thank you
- Letto 10379 volteEvery day we producers tell you about our wines, we share the photos of vineyards and tastings, we try to communicate our experiences and the successes we have achieved in the wine business. Very often we try to draw your attention on the problems that affect our life, and on the efforts we make to produce our wines as best as we can. Less often we speak about you: you that buy our wines, you consumers, winelovers, customers, you who make our wines part of your lives.
You who make our lives richer, satisfying and more intense.
Thank you for giving us so much attention, and so much love everyday.
More about indigenous yeast
- Letto 8737 volteSpontaneous fermentations or controlled ones? Wild or selected yeast? It's time to explain the difference.
Globalization in the Wine World
- Letto 8812 volteMacro economic trends and their impact on global wine markets: effects and challenges for small wine companies
Harvest 2014: first comments
- Letto 11070 volteI only have one comment on harvest 2014 in Sicily: outstanding!
Top 5 People of the Wine World
- Letto 8662 volteThe official list of top wine influencers: I am number 11 in the world according to Klout!
#SicilianWine project
- Letto 9525 volteUsing social networks to promote Sicilian wines and indigenous grape varieties: agriculture and technology working well together
For the sake of Perricone
- Letto 13368 volteMicrocosmo, the perfect marriage between Perricone and Nerello Mascalese, two beautiful wine grapes of Sicily
Manual pressing
- Letto 11418 volteFrom a doll's winery to the real one: a manual press is still a great tool to manage Ammàno and small pieds-de-cuve
Sampling
- Letto 10653 volteBerries sampling is the best way to get ready for the harvest and to check quantity and quality of the wine grapes
What harvest is
- Letto 9335 volteFeelings and thoughts on next harvest 2013 and on the wines that I'd love to make when I grow older
The new vineyard of Inzolia
- Letto 15043 volteCantine Barbera's new vineyard of Inzolia has been planted by reproducing old clones that have adapted to Menfi's terroir for more than 90 years
A walk in the vineyards
- Letto 9532 volteSicily in May is a real beauty: flowers, blue skies and warm temperatures are ideal conditions to enjoy nature
Sicilian wine culture
- Letto 19322 volteSicilian viticulture tells the story of the Mediterranean, from ancient Greece to the modern age, and Sicilian wines are today renowned worldwide for their outstanding quality.
The art of making house wines
- Letto 750 volteAltrimenti, vino perpetuo from Inzolia grapes, is probably the only "house wine" that is still produced and bottled in Menfi.
In loving memory of David Lynch
- Letto 3726 volteMenfi DOC: wine and terroir
- Letto 6050 volteMenfi DOC: everything you need to know about one of the most interesting appellations and wine Regions in Sicily.
Pre-harvest talks
- Letto 2991 volteThis article on agriculture, climate change and harvest choices comes out from a chat with Francesco Falcone, whom I thank for his precious support.
[The picture shows the vineyard Microcosmo, where a dangerous arson was set yesterday by unknown criminals]
Hot vintages, fresh vintages
- Letto 3918 volteOur past three vintages in Sicily have been incredibly hot, the 2017 in particular. We have had many days above 100F and, in some occasions, daytime temperatures have risen above 120F, along with muggy nights and continued draught. Many ask: is it possible to make wine in these conditions? And, how can you describe wines made in hot vintages?
Nero d’Avola at your fingertips
- Letto 9718 volteAn easy guide to Nero d’Avola: history and character of the grape, and useful information on where is it grown, what does it taste like, and how to pair Nero d’Avola wines with Sicilian and international cuisine.
7 things you should keep in mind to enjoy wine tastings
- Letto 6853 volteAttending a wine show can be an amazing experience for professionals, but also for the general customer. Here you have a few tips to get the most out of wine tastings, especially if you are not an expert.
Italian wine appellations: what a DOC is
- Letto 20460 volteItalian DOCs (Appellations of Controlled Origin): what do they mean, what are their purposes, and why are they useful to recognize and understand wines produced in different regions?
Wild yeast and the miracle of life
- Letto 18834 volteWild yeast and spontaneous fermentations, which are today one of the key points of the natural wine movement, are linked to ancestral Mediterranean traditions that remain a source of culture and inspiration for many winegrowers all over the world.
Inzolia, the Mediterranean queen
- Letto 22031 volteKnown in Sicily by different names (Insolia, Ansolia, ‘Nzolia vranca), Inzolia is a white grape variety anciently brought by Greeks. It grows also in Tuscany (Ansonica), and in several wine regions of Western Mediterranean.
The color of wine
- Letto 11776 volteWhere does the color of wine come from? What is white and red winemaking? What does "orange wine" mean?
These are the most asked questions during this summer's visits at Cantine Barbera.
Perricone unveiled
- Letto 14412 voltePerricone [PEH-reeh-KO’-neh] is a red grape variety that is indigenous to Western Sicily. It has been cultivated for centuries in the “golden triangle” between Palermo, Trapani and Agrigento.
Spring, finally
- Letto 9853 volteThanks to the beautiful weather of the past week, the vineyards are now covered with herbs and wild flowers and it’s finally time for bud break
A late spring is good for wine
- Letto 8520 volteA late spring is quite uncommon in Menfi.
Heavy rainfalls over the last three weeks are causing major inconvenience to farm works in the Belice Valley
Harvest 2014: full report
- Letto 8076 volteDespite what has happened in the North of Italy, harvest 2014 in Sicily was one of the best I have experienced in my life
Defoliating the Cabernet
- Letto 8785 volteCanopy management is one of the most important vineyard operations before the harvest
Microcosmo, the magic of wine
- Letto 10720 volteMicrocosmo, a Sicilian wine made with Perricone and Nerello Mascalese, and the meaning of space and time
Wine Bloggers Tour 2013
- Letto 11551 volteIndigenous yeast and spontaneous fermentation unveiled: the WestSicily Wine Blogger's Tour in Menfi and Marsala
Waiting for Bambina
- Letto 11355 volteWhatever the problem, nothing can ruin the best day of the harvest: La Bambina 2013 is picked!
Yeastmaking: starting it all over
- Letto 11199 volteWhy is everybody scared by spontaneous fermentation? Winemaking tip of the day: management of indigenous yeast
Ripening of a grapevine
- Letto 11260 volteEvaluating the phenolic ripening of wine grapes is more important than just chemical analysis: Cantine Barbera experience
Let's go social!
- Letto 13736 volteFrom traditional wine marketing to social presence: how to turn your online reputation into social currency
Diary of the vineyards: pruning
- Letto 11944 voltePruning is a very sensitive operation, which we perform manually to respect the productive potential of each vine
Dietro le Case vertical tasting
- Letto 10749 volteInzolia is a beautiful Sicilian wine that has amazing aging potential: notes from a vertical tasting of Cantine Barbera Dietro le Case
La Bambina and her world
- Letto 11326 volteThe true story of La Bambina, Cantine Barbera rosé wine, and the reasons for its success
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