About this wine
Vineyard and terroir
The grapes come from the family-owned Dispensa, Gurra and Ulmo vineyards in Menfi and Sambuca di Sicilia. Dispensa lies at 45–75 m above sea level, Gurra at 75 m and Ulmo at 210 m.
Dispensa has moderately deep, moderately calcareous soils of average fertility, with little to almost no structure. Gurra is distinguished by lime and abundant chalk. At Ulmo, the soils are medium-textured and moderately deep to deep, with plentiful pebbles, slight calcareousness and areas of dark vegetable soil.
The vines are trained on espalier systems using spurred-cordon and Guyot pruning, at a density of 4,500–5,050 plants per hectare. Yields are 90 quintals per hectare at Dispensa, 80 at Gurra and 100 at Ulmo.
Viticulture follows organic-agriculture criteria and the SOStain® protocol. Berseem and subterranean clover, beans, vetch, mustard and wild plant extracts are used as ground cover. Vine health is supported with minimal quantities of sulphur and copper, while beneficial insects and mating disruption are used against pests. The wine carries organic-wine and SOStain® certification.
Grapes
The 2025 blend is 40% Grecanico, 20% Grillo, 20% Chardonnay and 20% other varieties.
Vinification
Harvest runs from 5 August to 20 September. The grapes are placed in small trolleys and cooled to approximately 16–17°C. At the winery they are destemmed and pressed, followed by gentle pressing. The must remains at approximately 8–9°C for 36 hours of static settling. The clear portion is then racked and fermented at approximately 15–16°C for 10–12 days in stainless-steel tanks with capacities of 210, 264 or 600 hl.
About seven days after fermentation, the wine is racked and retained on its finest lees, with weekly stirring to preserve aromas and add volume on the palate. It is subsequently blended and bottled.
Ageing
Maturation takes place in stainless steel. The 2025 wine was scheduled for bottling in January 2026.
Technical data
Sicilia D.O.C. Alcohol is 12.5% vol., total acidity 5.85 g/L and pH 3.25. Available formats are 0.375 L and 0.75 L. Closures may be DIAM®, NOMACORC® or STELVIN®.
Tasting profile
Pale yellow with sea-green highlights. The aroma combines white peach, slightly underripe apricot, Sicilian citrus, white melon, fresh Golden Delicious apple, tropical fruit, chestnut honey and freshly cut hay. The palate is slender and balanced, with fresh acidity and notable persistence. Fruit and saline sensations return on the finish alongside a refreshing character.
Serving and pairing
Designed to work as an aperitif as well as with vegetarian cuisine, salads, fish-based first courses and raw seafood. It is intended to be enjoyed young, while allowing for evolution over the following two years.
Vintage notes
The 2025 harvest was good overall and particularly successful in higher-elevation vineyards. Ulmo, Monte Cirami and Maroccoli benefited from cool soils and the surrounding woodland and Mediterranean scrub, supporting complete, harmonious ripening and a balance between quality and quantity. Chardonnay performed especially well, while Grecanico finished the season at high quality.
Label / history
First produced in 1995, La Segreta takes its name from the woods surrounding the Ulmo vineyards. It has always been made exclusively from vineyards owned by the Planeta family for centuries.
The original label referred graphically to an eighteenth-century map of the area, evoking the family’s longstanding roots there. The redesigned label turns to Sicilian nature and draws inspiration from the painted herbarium created by Sicilian pharmacist Giuseppe Riggio with an artist between the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Its herbs, flowers and roots evoke the island’s concealed natural richness.