About this wine
Vineyard and terroir
Terebinto comes from the Monte Cirami and Gurra vineyards in Menfi (AG). Monte Cirami lies at 400 m above sea level on healthy, loose soil containing fine gravel, with a pronounced slope. Gurra is at 35 m and has moderately deep, low-lime, highly chalky soil with little structure. Yields for the 2023 vintage were 90 q/ha at Monte Cirami and 80 q/ha at Gurra. Planting density is 4,545 vines per hectare, trained on espalier with Guyot pruning.
The vineyards are managed under organic-agriculture criteria and SOStain® protocols. Beans, vetch and spontaneous plants provide ground cover, increasing organic matter and nitrogen while supporting soil microfauna. Vine health is maintained with minimal quantities of sulphur and copper. Beneficial insects, mating disruption, zeolite, kaolin and plant extracts are used to control phytophagous pests. The wine is certified Organic and SOStain®.
Grapes
100% Grillo. The variety originated in the mid-19th century through the hybridisation of Zibibbo and Catarratto.
Vinification
For the 2023 vintage, the grapes were harvested by hand between 24 August and 8 September and transferred rapidly to the winery. They were crushed, destemmed and gently pressed. The must remained at approximately 2–3°C for 4–5 days before its clear fraction was racked and fermented at about 14°C for 18–20 days in 103 and 235 hl stainless-steel vats. Around 10 days after fermentation, the wine was racked again.
Ageing
Maturation took place in stainless steel on the finest lees, with weekly stirring. The 2023 vintage was bottled in February 2024.
Technical data
2023 vintage: 13.50% alcohol by volume, total acidity of 5.95 g/l and pH 3.30. The wine is offered in a 0.75 l “Centopercento Sicilia” bottle weighing 410 g and made from glass recycled and processed in Sicily. Closure options are single-piece cork, DIAM® and NOMACORC®.
Tasting profile
Canary yellow. The aromatic profile has a tropical character, with pineapple, white melon, rice, Granny Smith apple and prickly pear. The palate is fresh, vibrant and balanced, a quality associated with the elevation of the vineyards.
Serving and pairing
Pair with raw seafood, pasta with sea urchins, fried vegetables or fish, white cheeses and vegetable crudités. It can be enjoyed immediately or kept for 4–5 years.
Vintage notes
In Menfi, the typical sea breeze kept disease pressure manageable during 2023. Heat at the end of July accelerated a harvest that had initially been significantly delayed, bringing the starting dates back toward normal and producing a rapid picking period. The crop was approximately 15% smaller, with a corresponding improvement in grape quality. Grillo was aromatic, precise and intense.
Label / history
Terebinto takes its name from the terebinth, a glossy-leaved shrub associated with Sicily and Mediterranean landscapes from east to west. First produced in 2016, it was conceived as an aromatic and intense single-variety expression of Grillo.