About this wine
Vineyard and terroir
The 2024 Chardonnay comes from Ulmo, Maroccoli and Monte Cirami in the district of Sambuca di Sicilia (AG). Ulmo lies at 250 m above sea level; Maroccoli and Monte Cirami reach 415 m. Ulmo has moderately deep to deep, medium-textured soil with abundant pebbles, moderate limestone and sections of dark, organic-rich earth. The other two vineyards have calcareous, slightly chalky soils with medium-sized stones and abundant limestone fractions.
The vines are espalier-trained and Guyot-pruned. Planting density is 4,545 vines/ha at Ulmo and 5,050 vines/ha at Maroccoli and Monte Cirami. Corresponding yields are 60 and 70 q/ha (6 and 7 t/ha).
The vineyards follow organic farming criteria and the SOStain® protocol. Clover, vetch, yellow mustard and spontaneous vegetation provide ground cover, increasing organic matter and nitrogen while supporting soil microfauna. Plant health is managed with small quantities of sulphur and copper; useful insects, mating disruption, zeolite, kaolin and plant extracts are used against pests. The wine is certified organic and SOStain®.
Grapes
100% Chardonnay.
Vinification
For the 2024 vintage, the grapes were harvested by hand into 16 kg crates from 16 to 28 August and refrigerated to 12–14 °C. After destemming and crushing, they underwent gentle pressing and static settling at 6–7 °C. The clarified must was racked into 225 L Allier oak barrels and fermented at 17–19 °C for five to seven days.
Ageing
The wine remained on its primary lees in 225 L Allier oak barrels for 11 months. Bâtonnage was performed weekly during the first five months and every 14 days thereafter. The barrel composition was 40% new oak, 30% second-use barrels and 30% third-use barrels. Bottling was scheduled for August 2025.
Technical data
2024 vintage: 13% alcohol by volume, total acidity of 5.50 g/L and pH 3.33. Available formats are 0.375 L, 0.75 L, 1.5 L and 3 L. The 0.75 L bottle weighs 750 g and uses a one-piece natural cork. Ageing capacity is 8–10 years.
Tasting profile
The 2024 is pale gold, a colour associated with both Chardonnay and fermentation in wood. Sweet, fine oak frames rather than masks aromas of apricot, preserved peach, pink grapefruit, fresh milk, oriental spices, beeswax and thistle honey. The palate combines freshness with enveloping oak-derived softness and closes on a mineral note.
The broader profile is creamy yet lively, with refreshing acidity supporting ripe yellow peach, acacia honey and marzipan. Peaty, cereal and toasted nuances emerge through a powerful, balanced finish.
Serving and pairing
Its layered character is suited to creative, contemporary pairings.
Vintage notes
The 2024 harvest marked the wine’s thirtieth vintage. Production across Sicily was low, but quality was excellent. Menfi experienced a bright, summery season, producing defined and balanced white wines. Chardonnay was harvested early with a particularly attractive aromatic profile. Organic vineyard management performed especially well under the dry conditions, yielding healthy grapes without corrective intervention.
Label / history
The project began in 1985 from an ambition to produce a Sicilian Chardonnay capable of competing internationally; the first commercial vintage was 1994. For the thirtieth harvest, one bottle in each six-bottle case carried a reproduction of Claire Fontaine’s 2023 artwork On Fire, part of the Planeta art collection housed at the Studiolo in Ulmo. The anniversary also connects to A Long and Magnificent Walk, a rural-landscape itinerary in the Selinunte Archaeological Park curated by Professor Giuseppe Barbera.