Storia
Agricultural roots
The family’s agricultural history at Bosco Falconeria predates the winery. In 1960, the first olive trees were planted on the family plot, beginning an olive-growing tradition that continues alongside viticulture. The family has now worked in quality viticulture for three generations.
2011 — the creation of Augustali
Augustali was established in 2011 at Bosco Falconeria as a family project bringing together farming, wine, environmental responsibility, hospitality and the sharing of rural traditions. Its vineyards and olive groves occupy hills between the provinces of Trapani and Palermo, with further vineyards in the Monreale countryside.
The name links the farm to the history of Frederick II of Swabia. In 1231, Frederick II had a gold trade coin called the Augustale struck at the mints of Messina and Brindisi. One face carried the image of Augustus and the other the imperial family’s spread-winged eagle. This coin inspired both the Augustali name and the eagle emblem. The pictogram was rendered as a mosaic, referring to Sicilian artistic culture, and a small star was added as a symbol of good fortune.
2012 — the first Bosco Falconeria wine and the educational farm
In January 2012, winemaker Vincenzo Bambina, convinced of the potential of the Bosco Falconeria land, planted 28 rows of Vermentino. He selected it as the sole variety for the estate’s first wine from this location, Il Contrasto del Bianco.
The same year, Finella Ammoscato and Vincenzo transformed the family vineyards, olive grove and citrus orchard into an open-air classroom. This became Augustali’s educational farm, designed to introduce children, families and school groups to agriculture, nature, food production and environmental responsibility.
2013 — social farming
In 2013, Augustali joined the Fattorie Sociali Sicilia network. Its accessible fields, gardens, animal areas and indoor facilities became the setting for activities involving people with disabilities in harvest work, olive picking, honey extraction, animal care, citrus harvesting and planting.
2020 — recognition for the Vermentino project
Il Contrasto del Bianco passed a selection involving 3,000 wines and entered the Top 100 Italian Wines in 2020. The result marked the first major recognition for the Vermentino project begun with the 28 rows planted in 2012.
The present estate
The family’s vineyards and olive groves now cover 19 hectares in two principal areas: Bosco Falconeria, on hills descending toward the Gulf of Castellammare between Alcamo and Partinico, and the hills of Monreale in the Palermo hinterland. Winemaking remains under the direction of Vincenzo Bambina, while Finella Ammoscato leads the educational, social and events activities and continues her work as a beekeeper.
Terroir
Two vineyard areas in north-western Sicily
The family farms vines and olives across 19 hectares divided between Bosco Falconeria and the Monreale countryside. Both areas are in north-western Sicily, between the provinces of Trapani and Palermo, but they have distinct elevations and soil profiles.
Bosco Falconeria
Bosco Falconeria lies between Alcamo and Partinico, in the central part of the Gulf of Castellammare. The gently rolling landscape descends toward the sea and was historically known as “the garden” because of its fertility. Sea breezes temper the sunlit hills and contribute to the local growing conditions.
The soils are sandy and moderately calcareous. Vineyard descriptions place the Vermentino and Nero d’Avola used for the Contrasto range at approximately 200 m above sea level and Catarratto at approximately 250 m. These conditions are associated with freshness, salinity and mineral expression.
Monreale hills
The second vineyard area is among the hills of Monreale in the Palermo hinterland. It is elevated, bright and well ventilated, with a Mediterranean climate. The fertile, medium-textured soils tend toward clay and contain substantial organic matter. Nero d’Avola vineyards are described at 350–400 m above sea level, while Grillo reaches approximately 450 m.
The combination of altitude, sunlight and ventilation makes the Monreale hills suitable for the estate’s Grillo and Nero d’Avola. Syrah is also associated with these clay-leaning, medium-textured soils and the area’s light, heat and wind.
Vinificazione
Augustali follows organic and sustainable farming principles. The vineyards are cultivated without synthetic pesticides or chemical fertilizers, with attention to biodiversity and the natural balance of the farm.
The vines are trained on espalier systems and pruned to Guyot. Technical vineyard descriptions give a planting density of 4,500 vines per hectare, an average age of 15 years and a yield of 3 kg per vine. Grapes for the principal still-wine varieties are harvested manually between the first and second ten-day periods of September, with the precise timing adjusted to the conditions of each growing season.
The vineyards form part of a mixed agricultural landscape that also includes olive groves, an organic citrus orchard, a small fruit orchard, aromatic gardens, apiaries and animal areas. Beehives stand in the citrus orchard at the foot of the hill, with forage areas kept away from active sources of pollution. This diversified setting supports the farm’s stated commitment to biodiversity and environmental education.
The winery stands among the family vineyards and olive groves. Its square plan recalls a traditional nineteenth-century Sicilian baglio, combining a rural architectural form with modern production equipment. Separate spaces are used for vinification, bottling and the maturation of red wines.
Production combines artisanal work with temperature-controlled cellar technology. Grapes are harvested by hand. White grapes are gently pressed and vinified without unnecessarily elaborate handling, with the stated aim of retaining their varietal and territorial expression. The principal white-wine protocol uses controlled fermentation at approximately 15°C, followed by about six months on the lees and further bottle maturation. Selected lots may ferment and mature in acacia barriques.
Red grapes ferment in stainless steel with eight to ten days of skin contact at approximately 22–25°C. Maturation may combine stainless steel with large 30 hl wooden vessels for approximately 18 months, followed by bottle aging. Longer-aged lots mature in 25 hl wooden casks for at least 24 months and then spend 12 months in bottle.
The cellar also works with ceramic TAVA amphorae. Grapes destined for this method remain on the vine to concentrate and are collected manually between October and November. Fermentation and four to five days of skin maceration take place in ceramic amphorae designed to provide controlled micro-oxygenation while preserving aromatic purity.
Sparkling production begins with gentle low-pressure pressing. The base wine ferments at approximately 15°C and remains on its lees; a second fermentation then takes place in an autoclave at the same controlled temperature, with approximately three months on the yeasts.
Filosofia
Augustali presents wine as the meeting point of family tradition, territorial identity and responsible innovation. Its aim is to preserve the recognizable character of the land while using modern techniques that do not compromise natural balance or biodiversity.
The family’s values are organised around environmental sustainability, authenticity, agricultural education, sharing, quality and the preservation of Sicilian rural traditions. Farming and winemaking are treated as parts of a broader cultural project: vineyards, cellar, food production, hospitality and education are intended to reconnect visitors with seasonal rhythms and the work of the countryside.
In the cellar, restraint is expressed through gentle handling and an intention not to obscure the grapes’ qualitative potential or territorial expression. At the same time, the use of temperature control, acacia barriques, large wooden casks, autoclaves and ceramic amphorae reflects an openness to technical experimentation.
The family also treats social inclusion as part of agricultural sustainability. Farming activities are used to encourage direct participation, manual learning and contact with plants, animals and food production.