Producer Spotlight: Feudo Montini Winery

Feudo Montini is one of the oldest recorded wineries in Sicily, passed down through three generations of family lineage. For centuries the winery belonged to the Abatellis, an aristocratic family from Aragon. In the late 1800s, the winery and vineyard were purchased by Rosario Sireci, the grandfather of the current owner, Fabio Sireci. Rosario believed he could harbor preexisting vines to create wines that were superior to those made elsewhere in Italy by performing massale selections that changed the vintage red and local white biotypes of native Sicilian grapes that grew on their property. And he did. In the late 1960s, Fabio's father, Elio, expanded the vineyard and modernized his artisan cellar before passing his passion down to his son. For the past 30 years, Fabio has continued the work of his grandfather and father, developing his love and passion for their certified organic vineyard.

Resting on 80 hectares 650 meters above sea level in the mountains of Cammarata, Feudo Montini cascades across an east facing slope overlooking sweeping views of Sicily. Such terroir is characterized by hot summer days, cool summer nights, steady rainfall, sandy soil and bitter cold winters, creating an incredibly robust grape. Harvested by hand, grapes are slowly and naturally fermented in large clay basins, stored in wooden vessels, and eventually bottled on-site.  

At Montini, there is an utmost respect of the natural processes of Mother Nature, following a belief that man should manipulate wine as little as possible. Montini envisions the purest forms of growth, using earth's natural elements to elevate the quality of their wine. Gravity is believed to slowly filter the wines, mountains help refrigerate clusters of grapes throughout hot Sicilian summers, time allows the wine to reach a state of perfection, wind and sun naturally control humidity and microorganisms naturally fertilize the surrounding soil. The final products are many of Italy’s most celebrated 100% indigenous varietals.

Montini is best known for their Nero D’Avolas, made from old vines with high altitude viticulture. Their most prized wines are the Lagnusa and Vrucara Nero D’Avolas. Ranked among Italy’s favorite reds, each wine has a unique personality. Lagnusa is fresh and matures early, while Vrucara is a more tactile, age worthy and deep Sicilian red. In addition to the purest expression of Nero D’Avola, Perricone, Nerello Mascalese, Catarratto, Grillo, Inzolia and Passito are cultivated from the vines of Feudo Montini.

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