Marco de Bartoli, Western Sicily (Organic)      

Marco De Bartoli was considered one of Sicily’s winemaking pioneers for his long-standing commitment to the native Sicilian white grape varieties, Grillo and Zibibbo. He has been succeeded by his sons, who have carried on the tradition of producing wines from two separate estates: the first in Marsala, in Sicily’s south-west corner, the other on the small island of Pantelleria, south-east of Sicily. The belief in the value of traditional methods of production of these grapes and the wines is complemented by an equally strong belief in the future of Sicily as one of Europe’s most vital viticultural areas. Grillo, which historically forms the basis of Marsala’s classic wines, has been grown on the island since Phoenician times. From the Samperi winery, in the Contrada Samperi just west of Marsala, Marco De Bartoli produces several wines from this grape. Like so many of our producers de Bartoli are trying to rediscover the natural flavour of wine using native yeasts and low sulphur during the vinification. Out of this ambition was born the Integer wines. One’s initial impression is of the uncompromising purity of the wine in the mouth – no corners have been cut, no corners of the palate will remain unchallenged by the wine.

The Grillo comes from 9 hectares of 20-to-30-year-old estate vines planted on the limestone-rich, sandy loam soils of the Samperi contrada or zone in Marsala; the grapes for the Vignaverde  or "green vine" are picked earlier than for any other De Bartoli white, generally in mid-August, for maximum acidity and freshness. The organically farmed fruit is hand-harvested, destemmed, gently pressed and then macerated with skins for approximately 24 hours. After a 48-hour settling at a cool temperature, fermentation takes places in stainless steel vats with natural yeasts only. The wine is aged on its fine lees in steel tank for 6 months; total sulfur is moderate at about 44 mg/liter. Vignaverde is classified as an IGT Terre Siciliane; its first vintage was 2013, making it the newest in the De Bartoli dry-white line-up.

Grape: 100% Grillo

Organic