Questo vino
Vineyard and terroir
The Chardonnay and Viognier vineyards lie near the Gurra di Mare winery in Porto Palo, Menfi, which Castellare di Castellina recently acquired. They receive bright sunshine and cool sea breezes, which give Tirsat its distinctive character. Rocks run down from the vineyards to the sea.
Vinification
The grapes are harvested in the first half of August. The must undergoes alcoholic and malolactic fermentation.
Ageing
The wine spends at least 6 months in stainless steel tanks. After bottling it matures for a further 4 months.
Vintage notes
2019: The year began with a very cold, rainy winter, preceded by snowfall and sub-zero temperatures, highly unusual for Sicily. An early spring followed, but high humidity delayed the start of the growing cycle by two weeks. June was warm and dry, allowing the vines to recover somewhat, and July and August brought favourable, stable weather. Yields were lower than usual, but the grapes reached an excellent level of ripeness while retaining crisp acidity.
Label / history
Tirsat means "stone in the water" in Arabic and refers to the rocks running from the vineyards down to the sea. The palm is the symbol of the new winery. Palm trees are threatened by the palm weevil, whose larvae live inside the trunk and eventually destroy the plant, causing irreversible damage to the Sicilian landscape. Part of the proceeds from Tirsat will be donated to efforts to control these pests.
