In Contessa Entellina after two slightly rainier years, in 2018 743 mm of rainfall were recorded, a figure that is above the average of 667 mm* of this territory. Most of the rainfall was distributed in spring; only in some plots there have been precipitations in the summer. The integrated management of agronomic practices, from pruning to thinning to the choice of different harvesting moments, inspired by an eco-sustainable viticulture, has allowed us to have healthy and well-ripened grapes.

*Precipitation data are collected by SIAS, Sicilian Agrometeorological Service; the rainfall recorded from October 1st to September 30th of the following year is taken into account; the average is calculated starting from the 2003 harvest.

A further selection is carried out in the cellar, thanks to a latest generation destemmer, able to discard the green and overripe berries that might still be on the clusters. Fermentation in stainless steel and maceration on the skins for 12 days at a temperature of 26 - 30° C (79 -86° F). Ageing for 13-14 months in new french oak barriques and then in the bottle for at least 24 months.

Production Zone: south-western Sicily, Contessa Entellina Estate and nearby areas.
Terrains & Climate: altitude from 200 to 400 m a.m.s.l. (656- 1,312 ft); hilly orography; clay loam soils with a sub-alkaline reaction (pH 7.5 to 7.9) rich in nutritive elements (potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, zinc) and total limestone from 20 to 35%. Mild winters with little rainfall. Warm, dry, ventilated summers. Substantial differences between day and night-time temperatures.
Vineyard: VSP (Vertical Shoot Positioning) training with spurred cordon pruning g, leaving 6 to 8 buds per plant. Planting density of 4,500 to 6,000 plants per hectare (1,800-2,400 an acre) and yields of about 4-5 tons per hectare (1.6-2 tons an acre).

Denomination: Red Sicilia DOC
Grapes: Nero d'Avola, Petit Verdot, Syrah and other grapes
Alcohol: 13.80 % vol.
Total Acidity: 6.2 g/l.
pH: 3.67

In the 2017 vintage 555 mm of rainfall was recorded, a slightly lower figure compared to the average* (661 mm) for this territory. Rainfall was mainly concentrated in autumn and winter and therefore, during the months of June and July, we intervened with emergency irrigation; thus the vineyards were able to complete the vegetation-production cycle in a regular way.

*Vintage: In Contessa Entellina we consider the period from October 1 to September 30; Rainfall: data collected by SIAS, (Sicilian Agrometeorological Service); **the average is calculated from vintage 2003.

A further selection is carried out in the cellar, thanks to a latest generation destemmer, able to discard the green and overripe berries that might still be on the clusters. Fermentation in stainless steel and maceration on the skins for 12 days at a temperature of 26 - 30° C (79 -86° F). Ageing for 13-14 months in new French oak barriques and then in the bottle for at least 20 months.

Production Zone: south-western Sicily, Contessa Entellina Estate and nearby areas.
Terrains & Climate: altitude from 200 to 400 m a.m.s.l. (656- 1,312 ft); hilly orography; clay loam soils with a sub-alkaline reaction (pH 7.5 to 7.9) rich in nutritive elements (potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, zinc) and total limestone from 20 to 35%. Mild winters with little rainfall. Warm, dry, ventilated summers. Substantial differences between day and night-time temperatures.
Vineyard: VSP (Vertical Shoot Positioning) training with spurred cordon pruning g, leaving 6 to 8 buds per plant. Planting density of 4,500 to 6,000 plants per hectare (1,800-2,400 an acre) and yields of about 4-5 tons per hectare (1.6-2 tons an acre).

Denomination: Red Sicilia DOC
Grapes: Nero d'Avola, Petit Verdot, Syrah and other grapes
Alcohol: 13.70 % vol.
Total Acidity: 5.3 g/l.
pH: 3.66

• DENOMINATION: Red Sicilia DOC.
• GRAPES: Nero d'Avola, Petit Verdot, Syrah and other grapes.PRODUCTION ZONE: south-western Sicily, Contessa Entellina Estate and nearby areas.
• TERRAINS & CLIMATE: altitude from 200 to 600 m a.m.s.l. (656- 1,312 ft); hilly orography; clay loam soils with a sub-alkaline reaction (pH 7.5 to 7.9) rich in nutritive elements (potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, zinc) and total limestone from 20 to 35%. Mild winters with little rainfall. Warm, dry, ventilated summers. Substantial differences between day and night-time temperatures.
• VINEYARD: VSP (Vertical Shoot Positioning) training with spurred cordon pruning g, leaving 6 to 8 buds per plant. Planting density of 4,500 to 6,000 plants per hectare (1,800-2,400 an acre) and yields of about 4-5 tons per hectare (1.6-2 tons an acre).
• VINTAGE*: the 2016 vintage was characterized by a fairly balanced climatic trend, marked by a mild spring and a summer without excessive peaks of heat, allowing the vineyard to continue the vegetative cycle in a balanced way. Overall, 590 mm* of rainfall was recorded, a slightly lower figure compared to the average of 669 mm**. Careful vineyard management allowed us to bring into the winery healthy and well-ripened grapes, a premise of quality, long-lived wines. *in Contessa Entellina we consider the period from October 1 to September 30; RAINFALL: data collected by SIAS, (Sicilian Agrometeorological Service); **the average is calculated from vintage 2003 to vintage 2016.
• HARVESTING: manual harvesting of grapes into crates with careful selection of the grapes in the vineyard. The harvest of the grapes destined for Mille e una Notte began during the first decade of September with the Nero d'Avola and Petit Verdot, followed by Syrah.
• VINIFICATION: a further selection is carried out in the cellar, thanks to a latest generation destemmer, able to discard the green and overripe berries that might still be on the clusters. Fermentation in stainless steel and maceration on the skins for 12 days at a temperature of 26 - 30° C (79 -86° F). Ageing for 13-14 months in new French oak barriques and then in the bottle for at least 20 months.
• ANALYSIS DATA: alcohol 13.84 % vol., total acidity: 5.7 g/l., pH: 3.62.

• GRAPES: Nero d'Avola, Petit Verdot, Syrah and other grapes.
• PRODUCTION ZONE: South-western Sicily, Contessa Entellina Estate and nearby areas.
• TERRAINS: altitude from 200 to 600 m a.m.s.l. (656- 1,312 ft); hilly orography; clay loam soils with a sub-alkaline reaction (pH 7.5 to 7.9) rich in nutritive elements (potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, zinc) and total limestone from 20 to 35%.
• VINEYARD: VSP (Vertical Shoot Positioning) training with spurred cordon pruning g, leaving 6 to 8 buds per plant. Planting density of 4,500 to 6,000 plants per hectare (1,822-2,429 an acre) and yields of about 4 tons (1.6 tons per acre); about 0.8 kg per plant
• VINTAGE 2015: Up to the end of June, the 2015 vintage was characterized by a climatic trend that was cooler and rainier than seasonal averages. Overall, from 1 October 2014to 30 September 2015, rainfall reached 763 mm compared to the 656 average of the last 10 years. In July the maximum temperatures recorded were higher than the average values for the period which favored the ripening process of the grapes. The considerable temperature fluctuations between day and night favored the concentration of aromatic precursors in the grapes.
• HARVESTING: manual harvesting of grapes into crates with careful selection of the grapes in the vineyard. The harvest of the grapes destined for Mille e una Notte began during the first decade of September with the Nero d'Avola and Petit Verdot, followed by Syrah.
• VINIFICATION: A further selection is carried out in the cellar, thanks to a latest generation destemmer, able to discard the green and overripe berries that might still be on the clusters. Fermentation in stainless steel and maceration on the skins for 12 days at a temperature of 26 - 30° C (79 -86° F). Ageing for 13 months in new French oak barriques and then in the bottle for at least 24 months.
• ANALYSIS DATA: alcohol 13.80 % vol., total acidity: 5.8 g/l., pH: 3.62

• DENOMINATION: Red – Terre Siciliane IGT.
• GRAPES: Nero d'Avola, Petit Verdot, Syrah and other grapes.
• PRODUCTION ZONE: Southwestern Sicily, Contessa Entellina Estate and nearby areas.
• TERRAINS: altitude from 200 to 600 m a.m.s.l. (656- 1,312 ft); hilly orography; clay loam soils with a sub-alkaline reaction (pH 7.5 to 7.9) rich in nutritive elements (potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, zinc) and total limestone from 20 to 35%.
• VINEYARD: VSP (Vertical Shoot Positioning) training with spurred cordon pruning g, leaving 6 to 8 buds per plant. Planting density of 4,500 to 6,000 plants per hectare (1,822-2,429 an acre) and yields of about 4 tons (1.6 tons per acre); about 0.8 kg per plant
• VINTAGE 2014: the 2014 vintage was characterized by a fairly balanced climatic trend, marked by a relatively mild winter and a cool, rainy spring. Overall, from 1 October 2013 to 30 September 2014, 620 mm of rainfall was recorded: a slightly lower figure compared to the average of the last 10 years, with rainfall concentrated in the spring months. July and August passed without excesses of heat and with an excellent temperature range between day and night, thus favoring the production of particularly fresh and balanced wines.
• HARVESTING: manual harvesting of grapes into crates with careful selection of the grapes in the vineyard. The harvest of the grapes destined for Mille e una Notte began during the first decade of September with the Nero d'Avola and Syrah and concluded in the third week with the Petit Verdot.
• VINIFICATION: A further selection is carried out in the cellar, thanks to a latest generation destemmer, able to discard the green and overripe berries that might still be on the clusters. Fermentation in stainless steel and maceration on the skins for 12 days at a temperature of 26 - 30° C (79 -86° F). Ageing for 14 months in new French oak barriques and then in the bottle for at least 24 months.
• ANALYSIS DATA: alcohol 13.88 % vol., total acidity: 5.5 g/l., pH: 3.57