Questo vino
Vineyard and terroir
The grapes come from the La Baronia vineyard in Milazzo (ME), planted on the Capo Milazzo promontory close to the sea at 40 m above sea level. The deep, loose and dark soils are alluvial in origin, predominantly silty and moderately endowed with granitic material. Their profile includes a 50–60 cm layer mixed with volcanic ash transported by the wind from Etna.
The planting density is 5,050 vines per hectare. Vines are trained both on espalier with spurred-cordon pruning and as supported alberello. The 2022 yields were 62 quintals per hectare for Nero d’Avola and 70 quintals per hectare for Nocera, equivalent to 6.2 and 7 tonnes per hectare respectively.
Mamertino is an organic wine with SOStain® certification. Barley, vetch, oats and spontaneous flora provide ground cover, increasing soil organic matter and nitrogen while supporting its microfauna. Vine health is managed with small quantities of sulphur and copper. Beneficial insects, mating disruption, zeolite, kaolin and plant extracts are used to discourage pests.
Grapes
60% Nero d’Avola and 40% Nocera.
Vinification
For the 2022 vintage, Nero d’Avola was harvested on 5–6 September and Nocera on 8 and 10 September. The fruit was picked by hand into 15–27 kg crates, selected upon arrival at the winery and destemmed. Fermentation took place in stainless-steel vats at approximately 25°C. The wine remained on the skins for 14–17 days, with repeated pump-overs through the end of the maceration period. Gentle pressing and racking followed, and malolactic fermentation was completed in stainless steel.
Ageing
The wine matured for one year in 25 hl casks. The 2022 vintage was bottled in June 2023 with a single-piece natural cork.
Technical data
The 2022 wine has 13% alcohol by volume, total acidity of 5.92 g/L and a pH of 3.60. It is presented in a 750 ml bottle weighing 460 g.
Tasting profile
The colour is an intense, brilliant red with violet reflections. The nose is expressive, with Mediterranean scrub, blue fruit and jam. The palate has dense yet restrained tannins, well integrated with the wood.
Serving and pairing
Suitable for drinking immediately or keeping for up to three years. Pair with homemade starters, pasta with ragù, artichokes prepared in any style, lamb or grouper casserole.
Vintage notes
Sicily’s 2022 harvest combined high quality with average production approximately 12% below normal. A dry summer produced exceptionally healthy grapes and very low fungal pressure. Heavy rains in late autumn compensated for winter drought, while an ideal period from August to October counterbalanced the high average temperatures of June and July.
Capo Milazzo, normally one of the rainier areas, received 30% less rainfall than its ten-year average, with precipitation distributed throughout the year. Temperatures were broadly normal apart from June and July. A cool, rainy August preceded a dry September. Ripening was consequently challenging, and grape production finished slightly below average.
Label / history
The Mamertino denomination reaches back to antiquity. The Mamertini produced the wine at Mylae, modern Milazzo; it was described by Pliny and associated with Julius Caesar. The first vintage was 2013.
The small La Baronia winery lies close to the sea among vineyards planted on the Capo Milazzo promontory. The estate belongs to Fondazione Barone Lucifero, which receives part of the proceeds from the wine to support local children through social, cultural and assistance programmes. La Baronia is situated within a Site of Community Interest created to protect its flora and is surrounded by a protected marine area.
