The 2024 growing season was characterised by low rainfall and higher average temperatures; the harvest began a few days early. The quantity of grapes produced was below average; the quality was completely in line with the company’s targets.

Fermentation is carried out in steel with maceration on the skins at a controlled temperature. Ageing in tanks for at least 6 months and then in the bottle for at least another 6 months.

Production Area: Southwestern Sicily, on the Estate of the Municipality of Contessa Entellina and in other particularly suitable areas.
Soils & Climate: Prevalence of soils with altitude of 200 to 400 metres a.s.l., hilly orography and clay loam soils. Mild winters; dry, breezy summers with strong temperature variations between night and day.
Vineyard: VSP (Vertical Shoot Positioning) training with spurred cordon pruning, and other traditional training methods suitable for producing quality grapes.

Varietal: Nero d'Avola
Alcohol: 13.5%
Total Acidity: 5.8 g/l.
pH: 3.43

A total of 604 mm of rain was recorded, compared to the average* of 662mm. Specifically, after a dry winter, the abundant rainfall in May provided excellent soil water reserves, enabling the vineyard to withstand the high temperatures that lasted for about ten days in July. The following weeks were characterized by ideal climatic conditions. The 2023 vintage was a challenging one: thanks to meticulous agronomic management, the vegetative-productive cycle concluded regularly, resulting in well-matured grapes. The production was lower than the estate's average, but the quality was perfectly in line with the company’s goals.

*The 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.

The Nero d’Avola, destined to produce Sherazade, was harvested between the half of the month of August and the last ten days of September, according to ripening time in the different vineyards of the Estate.

Fermentation in stainless steel with maceration on the skins for about 6-8 days at a temperature of 24-25°C (75-79°F). After malolactic fermentation, the wine fines for about 4 months in tanks and then for at least 8 months in the bottle.

Production Area: South-western Sicily, Contessa Entellina Estate and nearby areas.
Soils & 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 10 buds per plant. Planting density of about 5,000 plants per hectare, with yields of 7.5-8.5 tons/ha (3.0-3.4 tons/acres).

Varietal: Nero d'Avola
Alcohol: 13.8% vol.
Total Acidity: 5.5 g/l.
pH: 3.45

Thanks to favorable climatic conditions, the 2022 vintage produced excellent results. A total of 1,016 mm of rain has been recorded, compared to an average* of 665 mm. Rains were concentrated in autumn and spring (between the end of April and the first ten days of May), providing soils with an important water reserve supplemented by emergency irrigation in some vineyards. Among the 1,016 mm of rainfall recorded, 150 mm fell during the last week of September, after the end of harvest. Generally speaking, temperatures were in line with last year's average; only in June did temperatures peak slowing down the vegetative phase, which later resumed regularly as temperatures returned to their seasonal average. Compared to 2021, there was a slight decrease in production; however, the quality of the 2022 vintage is very good.

*The 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.

The Nero d’Avola, destined to produce Sherazade, was harvested between the half of the month of August and the first week of September.

In stainless steel with maceration on the skins for about 6-8 days at a temperature of 24-25°C (75-79°F). After malolactic fermentation, the wine fines for about 4 months in tanks and then for at least 5 months in the bottle.

Production Area: South-western Sicily, Contessa Entellina Estate and nearby areas.
Soils & 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 10 buds per plant. Planting density of about 5,000 plants per hectare, with yields of 7.5-8.5 tons/ha (3.0-3.4 tons/acres).

Varietal: Nero d'Avola
Alcohol: 13.71% vol.
Total Acidity: 5.6 g/l.
pH: 3.45

At Contessa Entellina - 302 hectares in the heart of western Sicily - in the 2021 vintage there were 615 mm of rain, just under the 645 mm average for that area: rainfall was concentrated in winter, especially in the months of February and March, while spring was dry; in this season the delicate phases of flowering and fruit setting took place regularly. At the end of June there was a slowdown in the vegetative phase of the plants, which was then compensated for by the lower temperatures in July. A heat wave in the first two weeks of August accelerated the ripening of the earliest varieties. The entire vegetative-production cycle was accompanied by intense and careful work in the vineyard and so it ended regularly. The quantity of grapes produced was slightly higher than in 2020 which - it must be remembered - was below the average. The quality was fully in line with the company objectives, oriented towards high-quality productions.

*The 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.

The Nero d’Avola, destined to produce Sherazade, was harvested between the half of the month of August and the first decade of September.

Vinification in stainless steel with maceration on the skins for about 6-8 days at a temperature of 24-25 °C (75-79°F). After malolactic fermentation, the wine fines for about 4 months in tanks and then for at least 3 months in the bottle.

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 10 buds per plant. Planting density of about 5,000 plants per hectare, with yields of 7.5 - 8.5 tons/ha (3.0 - 3.4 tons/acres).

Varietal: Nero d'Avola
Production Zone: South-western Sicily, Contessa Entellina Estate and nearby areas.
Denomination: Red - Nero d'Avola Sicilia DOC
Alcohol: 13.73 % vol.
Total Acidity: 5.9 g/l.
pH: 3.38

• DENOMINATION: Red - Nero d'Avola Sicilia DOC
• GRAPE: Nero d'Avola.
• 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 difference between day and nighttime temperatures.
• VINEYARD: VSP (Vertical Shoot Positioning) training with spurred cordon pruning, leaving 6 to 10 buds per plant. Planting density of about 5,000 plants per hectare, with yields of 7.5 - 8.5 tons/ha (3.0 - 3.4 tons/acres).
• VINTAGE:  in Contessa Entellina after two little rainy years, in 2018 743 mm of rainfall were recorded, a figure that is above the average * (667 mm) of this territory. Most of the rainfall was distributed in spring; only in some plots there have been heavy 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 wellripened grapes. *(precipitation average calculated from the 2003 harvest and measured by SIAS, Sicilian Agrometeorological Service)
• HARVESTING: The Nero d’Avola destined for the production of Sherazade was harvested between the last week of August and the first week of September.
• VINIFICATION: in stainless steel with maceration on the skins for about 6-8 days at a temperature of 24-25 °C (75- 79°F). After malolactic fermentation, the wine fines for about 4 months in tanks and then for at least 3 months in the bottle.
• ANALYTICAL DATA: alcohol 13.26 % vol., total acidity: 5.6 g/l., pH: 3.49